Aldi opens in Horizon West

The newest grocer in town is now open in Horizon West.

German discount-grocery chain Aldi celebrated its grand opening Dec. 10 in Windermere Village, across from Summerport Village and adjacent to Windermere High School. The grocer is known for its own, exclusive store brands.

The store is located at 5865 Winter Garden-Vineland Road. Additionally, it is part of the company’s national expansion plan to become the third-largest United States grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022.

“We know shopping for groceries is essential, which is why we are committed to providing high-quality, affordable groceries and a safe shopping experience,” said Matt Thon, Haines City division vice president for Aldi. “We are proud to open this new Windermere store, and we look forward to doing what we do best, which is ensuring the communities we serve have access to the groceries they need at the lowest possible prices.” 

The 22,000-square-foot store is one of the chain’s larger stores — its more modest-size stores span about 16,400 square feet. 

The Horizon West location originally was slated to become The Fresh Market, but after the outparcel remained empty for a couple of years, the lease was terminated. Marc Skorman, president of Windermere-based Skorman Development Corp., said he believes Aldi has the strength and capability to grow and compete in these markets.

This marks the third West-Orange area Aldi location, with others in Ocoee and Winter Garden.

According to Aldi representatives, the chain’s stores always have been purposefully designed for simplicity and efficiency. This year, the grocer has integrated numerous new safety features in its stores nationwide.

For 10 years, Aldi has earned the title of Value Leader among U.S. grocery stores, according to the Market Force Information U.S. Grocery Competitive Study. Known for its low prices, Aldi works with partners to maintain affordability while curating a selection of more than 90% exclusive brands.

“We were really excited to get them, especially in light of some of those grocers that have closed — Lucky’s and Earth Fare and all of them,” Skorman said earlier this year. “We felt very excited and happy to be getting Aldi.”