Oldham: Supermarket giant Aldi has opened its fourth branch

The German discount store opened its latest premises on Lees Road, in Lees, and saw Team GB cycling silver medallist Josie Knight cut the ribbon at 8am this morning.

Bags of fruit and veg were awarded to the first 30 customers who queued up at the the store which offers a ‘food to go’ section at the front, as well as a health and beauty section.

Store manager Mark McManus and Olympian Josie Knight pictured cutting the ribbon while primary school pupils watch (Image: Aldi)

The Olympian, who made the podium in the team pursuit at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, said: “I’ve had a fantastic time opening the new Aldi this morning. It was an honour to officially open the store and welcome customers inside for the first time.”

The opening of the store means there is four in the borough, the other three can be found in Failsworth, Shaw and Chadderton. 

Much like the other stores, customers can take a walk down the ‘Aisle of Aldi’ where miscellaneous products such as an electric garden blower and vacuum for £34.99, a multifunctional rotating LED torch for £4.99 and a 4v rotary tool for £14.99 can be picked up.

Store manager Mark McManus and his team (Image: Aldi)

Store manager Mark McManus said: “It’s been a wonderful morning here at the opening of Aldi Lees. It was lovely to welcome our new customers into store, and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks.”

Also in attendance at the grand opening, were pupils from St Thomas Leesfield Primary School who will receive a virtual assembly by Josie about her training regime and experience of competing as an Olympian.

Aldi's fresh fruit and veg section of the new Lees store (Image: Aldi)

Josie added: “I am looking forward to speaking with the children at St Thomas Leesfield Primary School about the importance of eating healthily and how it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family. Hopefully I will inspire the pupils to keep active and try different sports.”

Josie’s talk is part of Aldi’s initiative ‘Get Set to Eat Fresh’ – aimed at inspiring school children to learn more about the benefits of cooking fresh and healthy food.

Aldi also offered pupils at the school the opportunity to win a £20 gift voucher to spend at the new store where children were tasked with creating a poster to show what healthy eating means to them, and Josie will announce the winner during the assembly.

The store will be open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 10pm, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.