ALDI Australia has announced the appointment of Anna McGrath as CEO. The announcement comes at a time when the business is keenly aware of the impact that it can have on Australian shoppers' back pockets.
"I am honoured to lead a business that repeatedly delivers for Australians. Over the 17 years, I've been at ALDI, we have always been focused on price leadership, but it has never been more important than now," said McGrath.
"We have a responsibility to maintain our price gap and show Australians facing pressures within their family budgets that they will achieve serious savings by changing their weekly shop to ALDI without compromising quality."
Having held senior positions across buying, marketing and executive management, including serving as Group Managing Director in both the ALDI US and Australian businesses over the last five years, Ms McGrath notes that the last few years have been an exceptional time for customers:
McGrath continued that she was deeply devoted to the business and its critical role in its customers' lives by providing actual savings in their regular shop. She added that many Australians are feeling the bite of inflation, more so in the last couple of years than in the last couple of decades, and ALDI's entire business is focused on how it can work with its supplier partners to continue to deliver exceptional quality at the best prices in the market.
"ALDI has successfully achieved this over the 22 years we have operated in Australia, and I look forward to continuing that journey for our customers."
As ALDI Australia's new CEO, McGrath will continue to build on the company's success and contribute to its ongoing growth and expansion. ALDI most recently reconfirmed its Price Promise to Australians that it "won't be beaten on the cost of your weekly shop". Data reveals this promise resonates with customers, as more Australians were shopping at ALDI stores more often in the second quarter of 2023 (+5.2 percent, year-on-year).
Recent third-party data shows ALDI Australia's Price Promise, worth $3.1 billion in savings delivered directly to customers in 2022, also delivers down price pressure on the grocery sector. The downward pressure ALDI places on grocery prices in Australia saved non-ALDI shoppers $675 million in 2022 and a massive $7.8 billion since it opened its doors here over 20 years ago.
ALDI's business model is about saving people money. It aims to cut unnecessary costs and pass these savings on to customers. This has never been tested more than it was in the past year, and the supermarket was proud that it had maintained our price leadership when Australians needed it most, delivering ALDI customers $3.1 billion in savings last year alone.
McGrath said that the supermarket had a solid strategy in place that was resonating with Australian customers.
