Aldi is shutting down its click and collect service from 174 of its shops today in a move shoppers said will leave elderly and disabled shoppers ‘distraught’.
The budget supermarket has pulled the plug on the service, which allowed customers to pay a £4.99 charge for their supermarket shop to be picked and brought to their car by a staff member.
Launched in September 2020, the service was initially introduced in response to the online grocery shopping boom that was fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
But the scrapping of it has left some customers devastated, especially elderly shoppers and those with disabilities who struggle to pick the shopping themselves.
Aldi said it binned click and collect to focus on its main goal of providing customers with high-quality products at the lowest possible prices.
The budget supermarket has pulled the plug on click and collect, which allowed customers to pay a £4.99 charge for their supermarket shop to be picked and brought to their car by a staff member (stock photo)
Launched in September 2020, the service was initially introduced in response to the online grocery shopping boom that was fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns
A click and collect space at the chain in November 2020, in Staffordshire
Click and collect was available in 174 stores out of Aldi’s UK total of 1,020, but the service has ended across the whole business today.
Since the announcement, customers have taken to social media to show their disapproval at Aldi’s decision.
Jessica Knapman wrote on Twitter/X: ‘Aldi have decided to give us 6 days notice that their click and collect service is closing.
‘I am physically disabled, I cannot do my own shopping so this service was amazing. Other supermarkets are so much more expensive. Genuinely gutted.’
Polly James posted: ‘AldiUK Distraught to hear that you’re ceasing to offer Click and Collect.
‘Many of the half a million of us who are extremely clinically-vulnerable, but can’t have the Covid jab, rely on that to do our weekly food shop safely, while still shielding. Other retailers will benefit.’
Another posted: ‘Cannot for the life of me work out why you are stopping click and collect??
‘Shopping instore at #aldi has to be the most stressful supermarket there is in the UK from the small trollies to the checkout set up. C+C has been invaluable. I really hope you reconsider.’
Kathryn Harvey wrote: ‘Aldi announcing they are stopping click and collect from the 19th August has ruined my day!’
One shopper said: ‘Awful for the loads of disabled and carers strapped for time. The elderly who I know a few who find it a godsend. I’ve picked up for a neighbour a few times. He said he can’t shop there will have to use other supermarkets that deliver’, according to BirminghamLive.
Another social media user claimed she religiously spent a minimum of £260 every week on a click and collect order, as she couldn’t manage three trolley loads after cancer surgery.
Instead of cancelling click and collect, she urged Aldi to up their pricing for the service so it could continue.
And Lu Abbs posted on Facebook: ‘That’s very disappointing as I’ve just given birth and this was a godsend when heavily pregnant and wanted to continue this for the ease. Will have to use an alternative store now and think they will lose business’, according to Metro.
The axing of click and collect comes after Aldi withdrew home delivery of general merchandise, wine and spirits in 2023, and in 2022 it ended a partnership with Deliveroo that involved 130 stores.
Customers have taken to social media to show their disapproval at Aldi’s decision
In 2022 Aldi ended a partnership with Deliveroo that involved 130 stores
Unlike its traditional supermarket rivals — market leader Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons — Aldi does not offer a home delivery service.
Online shopping’s share of Britain’s total grocery market was about 7 per cent before the onset of the pandemic in 2020. It peaked at about 15 per cent during the pandemic, and is currently just under 13 per cent, according to industry data.
Aldi, owned by Germany’s Aldi Sud, and fellow discounter Lidl have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, transforming the UK supermarket scene and forcing traditional players to compete more aggressively.
However, recent industry data showed Aldi’s UK market share has edged lower. It was 10.0 per cent in the 12 weeks to Aug. 4, down 20 basis points on the year, according to data published on Tuesday from market researcher Kantar.
In an email to customers, Aldi said: ‘At Aldi, our focus is on providing customers with high-quality products at the lowest possible prices.
‘One of the ways we keep our prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket business in Britain. As a result, we’ve made the decision to bring our click & collect service to an end so we can focus on doing just that.’
It continues: ‘Although you will no longer be able to order your shopping to collect, you can still get all your favourite items, including all our Specialbuys, by coming into store.
‘May we take this opportunity to thank you for using this service, and for shopping at Aldi.’