THIS week Aldi revealed plans to open half-a-thousand stores across the UK in the next phase of its expansion - including five in south Essex.

The move comes as part of a two-year £1.3 billion investment into expansion, resulting in their UK portfolio growing to 1,500 stores.

Last month, Aldi unveiled plans to hire more than 1,700 workers in its warehouses. 

The supermarket giant has outlined the 500 "required locations" where it wants to open more stores across the UK, and these are the south Essex spots:

  • Basildon
  • Brentwood
  • Basildon
  • Rayleigh
  • Southend / Leigh 

These sites must meet certain criteria, including being a minimum two acres to accommodate 18-20k square foot unit and at least 100 parking spaces; having prominent main road frontage; being either central or on the edge of a town centre with a population of 15,000 or more; and the location must also be at least 1.5km from an existing store. 

Aldi is completing a major refurbishment of its Wickford store, which will re-open in November.

The chain has five other stores in this part of the region, including Benfleet, Pitsea, Grays, Westcliff and Southend.