The frontage and brand logo of a branch of German discount retailer Aldi, taken in a local retail park on Wirral, UK on a sunny afternoon
Aldi has announced a big change and shoppers aren’t happy. (Picture: Getty Images)

Aldi is regularly named the UK’s cheapest supermarket, with low prices that the others just can’t beat.

So it’s no surprise it’s the top choice for many when it comes to doing the weekly shop.

But a major change just announced by the budget retailer has some questioning whether they’ll continue to buy groceries there.

Aldi has revealed it’s axing its click and collect service in a few days, which has left a number of regular customers feeling ‘gutted’. 

The click and collect service saw shoppers order online and have their food and household items brought out to their car by a member of staff for a £4.99 fee.

An Aldi customer with groceries in trolley, loading food into her car
The service saw staff bring out shopping to a customer’s car, to save them the hassle. (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In an email sent to those who use the service, Aldi said: ‘Our focus is on providing customers with high-quality products at the lowest possible prices.

‘One of the ways we keep our prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket business in Britain. As a result, we’ve made the decision to bring our Click & Collect service to an end so we can focus on doing just that.’

They continued to say that new click and collect orders would no longer be available from August 19. Any that have already been placed before this date will still be carried out as usual.

The scheme was first launched in 2020 and has proved especially popular with those who are disabled, or find supermarkets too overwhelming. 

As such dozens of people have taken to social media to voice their upset over the German retailer’s change.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), @MrsB_UK said: ‘Disappointed that @AldiUK are stopping their Click and Collect service. Used it all the time to save the overwhelm of shopping in person.’

Similarly, @Jessica_Knapman posted: ‘@AldiUK have decided to give us 6 days notice that their click and collect service is closing. I am physically disabled, I cannot do my own shopping so this service was amazing. Other supermarkets are so much more expensive. Genuinely gutted.’

While @ErinMSCFC1983 claimed she religiously spent a minimum of £260 every week on a click and collect order, as she couldn’t manage three trolley loads after cancer surgery. She urged Aldi to up their pricing for click and collect instead of cancelling it. 

‘Aw mate cmon now,’ she wrote. ‘Hell just up ya click & collect pricing into brackets. 4.99 under 150 9.99 over 150 and so on.’

Over on Facebook, a number of shoppers claimed they were ‘devastated’ by the loss, and a few claimed they’d be shopping at Tesco or Sainsbury’s from now on, as these supermarkets still offer click and collect services.

Tasha Varney commented: ‘I use this every week as it’s cheaper than me browsing the store and buying things I don’t need. So disappointed.’

And Lu Abbs added: ‘That’s very disappointing as I’ve just given birth and this was a godsend when heavily pregnant and wanted to continue this for the ease. Will have to use an alternative store now and think they will lose business.’

However, there were also many people who didn’t even realise the supermarket offered the service. This is perhaps because it wasn’t available across all stores, only at 177 of the retailer’s 1,026 branches. 

Metro.co.uk has contacted Aldi for further comment. 

Will Aldi’s decision to axe its click and collect service affect your shopping habits?Comment Now

In other Aldi news, a store manager recently revealed secrets from the supermarket that shoppers have been dying to know for years.

Ricardo Sealey, the Nuneaton store manager, has heard it all during his time at the company — from queries about Aldi’s unique layout to customers wondering why prices are so low. One topic he shed some light on is the special buys from the middle aisle…

‘A common question customers ask is about Aldi’s Specialbuys, with many shoppers curious as to whether they can find different Specialbuys by visiting other stores in the area,’ says Ricardo.

But for those who think they can shop around, the simple answer is no.

Ricardo explains: ‘Specialbuys are released every Thursday and Sunday and are exclusively available in our stores, but everyone can purchase the same unique products no matter where they are in the UK.’

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You may find another store still has stock of something sold out elsewhere, but that’s about it.

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