Aldi opens its first petrol station in Germany
German discount retailer has opened its first petrol station in Germany following the success of a similar format in Austria.
Under the concept ‘First shop, then refuel,’ Aldi Süd, the branch of supermarket chain Aldi in charge of the South of Germany, has opened its first petrol stations in Ludwigsburg and in Stuttgart-Obertürkheim, both in the region of Baden-Württemberg.
The two new sites are part of a pilot program encompassing the operation of 10 fuelling stations, according to German magazine Wirtschaftswoche.
“We want to make shopping as practical as possible. Part of that is helping them (clients) with their mobility;” said a spokesperson for Aldi in the report.
The construction and operation of the actual site will be leased to FE-Trading, a subsidiary of Austrian oil company OMV, with the forecourts branded as “Clever Tanken. Avanti.” A brand with more than 500 sites in Austria.
Aldi’s new project in Germany, which will also include charging stations for electric vehicles, follows the example of Austria. Since 2009 some 80 petrol stations have opened at Hofer supermarkets (Aldi’s brand for Austria).
German fuel retailers will be weary of the discount supermarket’s entry into their sector as Aldi has made “low fuel prices” its main target.
