ALDI Australia’s new CEO confirms Price is what counts

ALDI Australia announces the appointment of Anna McGrath as CEO. The announcement comes at a time when the business is keenly aware of the impact that it can have on Australian shoppers’ back pockets.

“I am honoured to be leading a business that delivers for Australians time and time again. Over the 17 years I’ve been at ALDI, we have always been focused on price leadership, but it has never been more important than now. We have a responsibility to maintain our price gap and show Australians, that are facing pressures within their family budgets, that they will achieve serious savings by changing their weekly shop to ALDI, without comprising on quality,” Ms McGrath said. 

Having held senior positions across buying, marketing and executive management, including serving as Group Managing Director in both the ALDI US and Australian businesses over the last five years, Ms McGrath notes that the last few years have been an exceptional time for customers:

“I am deeply devoted to the business and the important role we play in our customers’ lives by providing real savings in their regular shop. It is not a secret that many Australians are feeling the bite of inflation, more so in the last couple of years than in the last couple of decades. Our entire business is focused on how we can work with our supplier partners to continue to deliver exceptional quality at the best prices in the market. ALDI has been successful at achieving this over the 22 years we have operated in Australia, and I am looking forward to continuing that journey for our customers,” Ms McGrath said.

As ALDI Australia’s new CEO, McGrath will continue to build on the company’s success and contribute to its ongoing growth and expansion. ALDI most recently reconfirmed its Price Promise to Australians, that it “won’t be beaten on the cost of your weekly shop”. Data reveals this promise is resonating with customers, as more Australians were shopping at ALDI stores more often in the second quarter of 2023 (+5.2%, YoY).

Recent third-party data shows ALDI Australia’s Price Promise, worth $3.1 billion in savings delivered directly to customers in 2022, also delivers down price pressure on the grocery sector. The downward pressure ALDI places on grocery prices in Australia saved non-ALDI shoppers $675 million in 2022 and a massive $7.8 billion since it opened its doors here over 20 years ago.

“ALDI’s business model is about saving people money. We aim to cut out unnecessary costs and pass these savings on to customers. This has never been tested more than it was in the past year, and we’re proud that we’ve been able to maintain our price leadership at a time when Australians need it most, delivering ALDI customers $3.1 billion in savings last year alone,” Ms McGrath continued.

“We have a very strong strategy in place that is resonating with Australian customers, I’m looking forward to bringing ALDI savings to more and more households.”

Looking ahead

While Ms McGrath notes that ALDI’s price leadership is at the core of her focus as CEO, she dually aims to continue to lead the way in terms of sustainability commitments.

In August 2020, ALDI became the first Australian supermarket to commit to 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2021 and then achieved this goal six months ahead of schedule. All ALDI Australia stores, offices and warehouses are now fully powered by renewable electricity.

“We don’t just want to be ‘Good Different’, we want to make a Good Difference. We have ambitious goals, but without big goals you don’t get big actions, so I am proud of the progress we are making. We are and will be the price leader, but our responsibility extends further than that. Building a sustainable business that minimises its impact is not a project, it’s an enduring responsibility that we are increasingly focused on. There is always more work to do, but I think we are making huge steps in the right direction.” she concluded.

In addition to being completely powered by renewable electricity, ALDI has committed to reducing plastic packaging by 25%, confirmed that 100% of packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable and will send zero waste to landfill, all by 2025. ALDI Australia recently won Finder’s 2023 ‘Green Supermarket of the Year’ award, recognising the company’s ambition and progress in its sustainability efforts.