The chief of Aldi’s Queensland operations, Viktor Jakupec, is preparing to relocate to Adelaide to spearhead the chain’s expansion into South Australia, after building up its network in Queensland. Jakupec lead the company’s expansion into Queensland in 2004, where is now has 75 stores across the state. While SA is on the company’s radar for 2014, Aldi is also continuing its aggressive expansion in the eastern states, opening a further four stores this month. Acc
ording to the Australian Financial Review, Aldi began conducting interviews last week with potential SA store managers and area managers as part of its recruitment program. Successful applicants will be placed into Aldi’s operations in either Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane for the next two years before returning to Adelaide.
The discount supermarket chain confirmed plans to enter SA and WA earlier this year, aiming for around 45 stores in SA and up to 60 to 70 stores in WA.
Aldi has 319 stores across Victoria, NSW, and Queensland. Since first entering the local market in 2001, Aldi is now estimated to have around five per cent of Australia’s supermarket sector.
