{"id":2153,"date":"2015-12-07T13:26:29","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T18:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/aldis-crusade-against-costs\/"},"modified":"2015-12-07T13:26:59","modified_gmt":"2015-12-07T18:26:59","slug":"aldis-crusade-against-costs","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/aldis-crusade-against-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Aldi\u2019s Crusade Against Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"aldi-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

German grocery chain Aldi continues to impress in its success and international growth, with considerable market share gains in recent years in the UK and Australian markets. Aldi is now the world\u2019s biggest discount grocer, and its success can be attributed to a tight integration between its operating and business models. By innovating throughout all areas of its operations, Aldi is able to realize incremental savings and pass these onto its consumers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Private Label Pride<\/strong><\/p>\n

90% of Aldi\u2019s aisles are stocked with private label products exclusive to Aldi. The company is selective in the products it offers, selecting only one or two brands per product and offering only the most common size.<\/p>\n

It also works closely with its suppliers to control the look of its products. Rather than the plain, no-frills packaging we\u2019re used to for private labels, these products are colorful, attractive, and often bear more than a slight resemblance to their more popular consumer-packaged goods counterparts.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An example of Aldi’s packaging<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In doing so, Aldi simplifies the shopping experience for its customers by removing the burden of selecting brands and sizes. It also appeals to its target consumer – the brand-agnostic customer who is motivated mainly by product quality and price.<\/p>\n

The downstream effect of its product selection strategy is a dramatic reduction in the number of products it needs to stock and manage in its supply chain. A typical Aldi store will stock 1,500 product lines, compared with 30,000 for a supermarket and over 100,000 for a superstore such as Costco. This translates to decreased costs for the firm, which are passed onto its consumers in the form of lower grocery prices.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Store Size<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aldi\u2019s stores are smaller in floor size compared to its competitors. It works hard to select its sites, and is able to partner with local land and property owners to establish its stores. The smaller store sizes also help to minimize disruption from traffic and parking infrastructure on its local communities. These strategies have helped Aldi, a business headquartered in Germany, to open a store in New York quicker than Walmart.<\/p>\n

Small store sizes also help with the customer experience by minimizing both the number of aisles required and the walking a consumer needs to do to complete his\/her shopping.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stocking Shelves is for Losers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aldi is also clever in managing its labor costs. Walk through any supermarket late at night and you\u2019ll see an army of people breaking open boxes and restocking shelves. Aldi eliminates this costly exercise by working with its suppliers to develop shipping boxes and cartons that are fit for display. Products in an Aldi aisle remains in their original cartons, and are sometimes moved into place in store on the very pallets they arrive in.<\/p>\n

By keeping its products in their shipping configuration, Aldi gains the added benefit of maximizing the use of shelf space. It also actively manages away \u201cullage\u201d \u2013 the practice used by many grocery suppliers where its packaging remains partially unfilled or has excess air. In these ways, it maximizes space efficiency throughout its supply chain. Products take up the smallest volume possible in both their shipping and display configurations which also supports the chain\u2019s small retail store format.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An Aldi Store Aisle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do it Yourself (And Don\u2019t Steal Our Trolleys)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everything in an Aldi store is self-service, with no counter service or staff for any of its products. The store keeps standard business hours to minimize its overhead costs. Customers are expected to bring their own grocery bags and to bag their own groceries (bags are offered for separate purchase if required) at the checkout lane. Until very recently, Aldi stores also did not offer debit or credit card services to minimize additional transaction costs.<\/p>\n

Aldi also values its trolleys dearly. All Aldi trolleys require a coin to use, which is returned to the user when the trolley is returned. This minimizes the costs for Aldi to find and\/or replace its trolleys.<\/p>\n

These strategies have paid off handsomely for Aldi and the firm continues to grow, with double digit growth in its European and Australian markets last year. It also has plans to expand its presence in the U.S., with a recent announcement to spend $3 billion to add 650 Aldi stores. Walmart, watch this space.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Where Wal-Mart Failed, Aldi Suceeds, http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/03\/30\/business\/30aldi.html?_r=0<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Tomorrow, not quite the world, The Economist; http:\/\/www.economist.com\/news\/business\/21646224-german-discounters-successful-business-model-only-stretches-so-far-tomorrow-not-quite<\/li>\n
  3. How Aldi\u2019s price plan shook up Tesco, Morrison\u2019s, Asda and Sainsbury\u2019s; http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2014\/sep\/29\/how-aldi-price-plan-shook-up-tesco-morrisons-asda-sainsburys<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Aldi – Our Philosophy; http:\/\/aldiuscareers.com\/about-aldi\/our-philosophy<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Aldi\u2019s Love Affair with Suppliers is Killing Coles and Woolies; http:\/\/www.businessspectator.com.au\/article\/2015\/9\/2\/retail\/aldis-love-affair-suppliers-killing-coles-and-woolies<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. ALDI Is a Growing Menace to America\u2019s Grocery Retailers; http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/thehartmangroup\/2015\/04\/14\/aldi-is-a-growing-menace-to-americas-grocery-retailers\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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