Age of austerity helps Aldi win out

With its origins in the frugal economy of post-war Germany, it’s little wonder that Aldi has become the destination store for hard-pressed Irish shoppers in search of a bargain. Kyran Fitzgerald looks at the building of a retail empire.

The grocery market is a real battleground, these days. Plenty of price discounting is under way, but the real pain is being borne by suppliers who are being forced to cough up to support marketing campaigns. Pressure on legislators to regulate the sector is growing.

Meanwhile, hard-pressed consumers — traditionally brand loyal — have swallowed their pride and taken to shopping for cheaper, own-label goods.