Fresh off the back of opening its milestone 1,000th UK branch in Woking last month, Aldi has now published a list of 12 locations nationwide where it will be opening brand-new stores before the end of 2023.
Part of the supermarket retailer‘s nationwide expansion plans of opening an average of one new store a week, every week, before Christmas is here, also adding to the long-term target of having a total of 1,500 stores serving in the UK, the Greater Manchester town of Oldham is set to get itself two new Aldi stores in the coming weeks.
Aldi revealed where 12 new stores will open in the UK before Christmas / Credit: Aldi
One of them, on Lees Road in the busy Lees area of the town, is even set to open its doors this month – with another on Broadway Green in Chadderton coming before the new year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The locations of 12 new Aldi stores
Chip Lane, Taunton
Lees Road, Oldham
Pompey Centre Retail Park, Portsmouth
Portrack Lane, Stockton
Fforestfach Retail Park, Swansea
Farnborough Gate, Farnborough
Becket Way, West Bridgford
Causeway Park, Staines-upon-Thames
Gateway Retail Park, Reading
Alvis Retail Park, Coventry
Broadway Green, Chadderton
Westway Retail Park, Cumbernauld
Each new store opening will create around 40 new jobs on average.
Aldi currently has 1,000 UK stores and employs more than 36,000 people – with its starting pay for Store Assistants currently being an industry-leading £11.40 per hour nationally, and the retailer still remaining the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid breaks too.
ADVERTISEMENT
Each new store opening will create around 40 new jobs on average / Credit: Aldi
The news that Oldham’s set to get itself two new Aldi stores comes after the retailer launched a massive recruitment drive last month, and revealed that it’s looking for a whopping 3,000 new staff members, both temporary and permanent, to join its teams at stores right across the UK ready for the busy Christmas period.
“We’re welcoming more and more customers through our doors each week,” Aldi’s Real Estate Director, George Brown, explained, “Which is why we’re investing in new stores up and down the country to bring our great value groceries to even more people and meet the growing demand for Aldi.
“Shoppers know they’ll always get more for their money when they shop with us, and we’re confident Aldi’s success will continue to grow.”
Featured Image – Aldi
Shopping
Trafford Centre announces opening hours for 2025/26 festive season – including Boxing Day
Emily Sergeant
Trafford Centre has published its full list of opening hours for this current festive season.
We all know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry, with people flocking to the shops in their millions to snap up festive gifts for their loved ones, and it only gets busier from Boxing Day onwards too when all the sales launch, offering shoppers some unmissable deals and bargains.
And nowhere in Greater Manchester gets busier during the festive season than the Trafford Centre. After all, with more than 200 stores all under one room, it’s not hard to see why.
This year, shoppers can make the most of extended opening hours at the Trafford Centre right through to New Year’s Day – with late night shopping until 11pm on selected dates in December leading up to the big day.
Alongside being a one-stop-shop for gifts, there’s also dozens of festive events and new Christmas lights to enjoy at the Trafford Centre too, so visitors can tick everything off their list and have a great day out while they’re at it.
The shopping centre will be open from 9am – 5pm on Christmas Eve, so you can whip round and grab any last-minute presents, before it’s closed fully on Christmas Day, and then opens again bright and early at 8am on Boxing Day.
Trafford Centre Christmas Opening Hours 2025/26
18 and 19 December: 10am – 11pm
20 December: 10am – 10pm
21 December: 12pm – 6pm
22 and 23 December: 10am – 11pm
Christmas: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
26 December: 8am – 8pm (some stores may be closed, please check with individual brands)
27 December: 10am – 9pm
28 December: 12pm – 6pm
29 and 30 December: 10pm – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: 12pm – 6pm
It’s also worth noting, however, that not every store inside the Trafford Centre will be open on Boxing Day, so you’ll need to check with individual brands ahead of time.
For the restaurants, stores, and leisure venues that are open, you can check their specific trading hours on the Trafford Centre website here.
When it comes to festive event, The Grotto is open until Christmas Eve for pre-bookings only, and the Christmas fairground and ice rink, Big Wheel, and Gandeys Snowstorm Firebird show are all open until 4 January (closed Christmas Day).
Featured Image – Trafford Centre (Supplied)
Shopping
Lidl reveals one of Manchester’s most-bought items in new ‘Lidl Wrapped’
Daisy Jackson
Lidl has unveiled the most-bought items in each major city around the UK, launching its first-ever ‘Lidl Wrapped’ to share the nation’s shopping habits.
The supermarket chain has gathered data on the most purchased items from 10 cities around the country, to see what the top sellers in each city has been this year.
You might be expecting a clean sweep of boring stuff like milk and bread – but no, apparently Manchester has been obsessed with… avocados.
According to Lidl Wrapped, Manchester has developed an avocado obsession, while Leeds residents have collectively purchased more than 133 million peas, and Bristol has invested in 11 tonnes-worth of coleslaw.
To celebrate the Lidl Wrapped for 2025, the supermarket is now rolling out its own wrapping paper range, and opening free gift-wrapping stations at 10 stores nationwide.
Between the 4 and 17 December, you’ll be able to have your shopping wrapped up in Manchester’s exclusive design (which, yes, will have avocados on it) so your Middle of Lidl find can switch into the perfect present.
The pop-up gift-wrapping stations will also have interactive games with prizes, like in-store discounts and a £50 golden ticket.
Lidl reveals most-bought item in Manchester in new ‘Lidl Wrapped’. Credit: Lidl
You can also buy the wrapping paper in packs of three for just 75p, with all proceeds donated to Neighbourly.
Joanna Gomer, Marketing Director at Lidl GB commented: “This year, our customers have shown us once again that the weekly shop is about more than groceries, it’s about moments, surprises, and the little joys that make life easier and bring people together.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we’re focused on giving our customers even more to value, extra reasons to smile, and plenty of those Lidl surprises that keep them coming back for more.”
The free Lidl wrapping stations will be available from 9am while stocks last between 4 and 17 December.
‘Lidl Wrapped’ top groceries across the UK:
Birmingham – Roses
Bristol – Deluxe Creamy Coleslaw
Cardiff – 15 Welsh Mixed Weight Free Range Eggs
Edinburgh – Lighthouse Bay 2 Scottish Salmon Fillets
Emily Sergeant -
19th October 2023 
