Aldi debt jumps by £100m as profit slips at discount grocer
Aldi took on more than £100m in net debt last year, as the discount grocer’s profit slipped despite its blockbuster expansion plans. The supermarket chain, the UK’s fourth largest, saw its net debt grow by a fifth in 2025, from £717m to £862m. Aldi’s jump in debt comes despite the grocer’s plans to expand rapidly [...]
Aldi, the UK's fourth largest discount grocer, saw its net debt increase by over £100 million to £862 million in 2025, as the retailer's profit slipped. The company's CEO, Giles Hurley, announced £900 million in funding to open 40 new stores, despite the profitability challenges. The discount retailer's operating profit remained steady at £433 million last year, yet pre-tax profit fell from £416 million to £400 million.
The workforce shrank from 50,655 to 49,661 employees, with about 1,000 staff cut annually. However, wage costs rose from £1.43 billion to £1.46 billion. Despite the increasing debt, Aldi remains well below its private-equity-owned rivals, Morrisons and Asda, in terms of net debt. Morrisons' net debt climbed from £7.1 billion to £7.5 billion, while Asda's debt amounted to £3.5 billion.
Aldi aims to increase its market share in Britain's grocery market, which it dominates alongside Lidl. The discount grocer is within 1% of Asda's market share, with Morrisons now holding the fifth spot. Hurley criticized rival supermarkets for offering loyalty discounts, alleging they create a false impression of value, while Aldi focuses on driving prices down and growing volumes.
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