CHRIS THOMSON

CLICK HERE FOR AUGUST, 2014 RELATED STORY: INNALOO ALDI ‘ROUND THE CORNER

CLICK HERE FOR JULY, 2014 RELATED STORY: LEAFY MUNDARING IS NOW CONTROVERSIALLY IN ALDI’S SIGHTS.

APRIL 29 UPDATE: BOTH THE ALDI CANNINGTON AND ALDI SOUTHERN RIVER SHOPS WERE APPROVED AT THEIR RESPECTIVE STATE ASSESSMENT PANEL MEETINGS. IT IS NOW UP TO THE GERMAN RETAIL GIANT TO ACT ON THE APPROVALS AND BUILD THE TWO SUPERMARKETS.

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh from revelations here that German cut-price supermarket giant ALDI will use a pre-approved store in Kwinana as its trojan horse into the WA market, oneperth.com.au can now reveal the global retail chain is planning shops in the eastern Perth suburbs of Cannington and Southern River.

With the 1475sqm Kwinana ALDI already approved due to the former use of its planned premises as a Coles supermarket, positive recommendations now before two state assessment panels look set to pave the way for the Cannington and Southern River ALDIs.

The $4 million, 1170sqm Cannington ALDI (pictured, left) is set to rise at the southern corner of Cockram Street and Albany Highway at the back of an existing building currently tenanted by Impressions Furniture Gallery, opposite the massive Westfield Carousel shopping complex.

If the Cannington ALDI is approved by a state assessment panel on April 24, the front of the building will be demolished to make way for extra parking.

If approved by another state development panel on April 29, the $3.5 million, 1434sqm Southern River ALDI (pictured, right) will occupy a new building at the Amherst Village shops on the corner of Holmes Street and Warton Road.

Last year, ALDI said it planned to expand its east coast presence to Western Australia and South Australia.

ALDI later announced it had signed a conditional contract for a 13.5 hectare distribution centre at Jandakot, would press ahead with plans to build 70 stores across WA, and had begun recruiting local staff.

New planning documents lodged on behalf of ALDI now put the planned number of WA stores at between 70 and 80.

Australia’s first ALDI supermarket opened in 2001. The company now has 270 supermarkets nationally in a worldwide network of 8000.

ALDI does not stock many high profile brands but, in cities into which it has moved, existing supermarket chains have been forced to slash prices to compete.