[GRI 102-16] ALDI Nord is an internationally successful discounter. We provide broad groups of consumers in nine countries with high-quality products at consistently low prices. “Simplicity, responsibility and reliability” – these values guide our actions and have been codified in our “Simply ALDI” mission statement. The mission statement provides a clear sense of direction for more than 69,000 ALDI employees.
Our everyday decisions have implications across our entire value chain, which is why assuming corporate responsibility (CR) is part of our understanding of business. We assume such responsibility not least to ensure our competitiveness in the long term, as we strive to set standards in the food retail industry and continue expanding our market position.
Net sales of the ALDI Nord Group
Total net sales of the business year (in billion euros)
Total number of stores and number of employees (headcount) by gender and region on the reporting date 31 December
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of stores |
Number of employees |
of which female |
Number of stores |
Number of employees |
of which female |
Number of stores |
Number of employees |
of which female |
|
|
Belgium/Luxembourg1 |
461 |
6,256 |
4,452 |
457 |
6,412 |
4,455 |
459 |
6,727 |
4,804 |
|
Denmark |
220 |
2,037 |
1,051 |
222 |
2,184 |
1,128 |
188 |
2,277 |
1,099 |
|
Germany |
2,339 |
31,429 |
22,521 |
2,298 |
35,215 |
25,405 |
2,249 |
35,836 |
25,511 |
|
France |
899 |
7,420 |
4,533 |
891 |
8,243 |
5,204 |
888 |
9,218 |
5,592 |
|
Netherlands |
498 |
6,291 |
3,893 |
491 |
6,300 |
3,857 |
494 |
8,654 |
5,099 |
|
Poland |
105 |
1,160 |
1,002 |
118 |
1,466 |
1,254 |
124 |
1,906 |
1,706 |
|
Portugal |
47 |
613 |
416 |
48 |
803 |
535 |
57 |
1,178 |
768 |
|
Spain |
260 |
2,973 |
1,889 |
264 |
3,456 |
2,174 |
272 |
3,571 |
2,263 |
|
ALDI Nord Group |
4,829 |
58,179 |
39,757 |
4,789 |
64,079 |
44,012 |
4,731 |
69,367 |
46,842 |
1 The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and in Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").
[GRI 102-2, -6, -7, -9] For more than 100 years, our customers’ needs have been the focus of our business activities. Their expectations of us are rising – which is why we never stop evolving. Through our modernisation measure known as the ALDI Instore Konzept (ANIKo), we are giving our stores a brighter, friendlier design featuring new colours and a clear presentation of products to provide even better orientation. We are also expanding our range of food and non-food items. However, ALDI North is more than just the sum of its products. Our goal is to be the discounter that understands people best, making us the one they feel closest to in the process. We want to make it possible for them to have a high-quality, straightforward, simple and affordable shopping experience – every day.
The heart of our product range is provided by the ALDI North Group own brands, which make up 86 per cent of the offerings on average. Selected brand-name products complete the product range. We are providing our customers with an ever greater selection of healthier and more sustainable products. In Germany, for example, we are the leading retailer of organic food in the North sales region. In addition, we are offering a growing range of organic products in other countries where ALDI North operates as well.
On average, we carry some 1,600 products from 70 product groups at a store, which marks an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2016. The standard range is complemented by alternating promotional products, which we began offering three times a week starting in 2017. They include products such as textiles and footwear, electronics, household items, DIY and garden products. Online services, such as travel, photo, music or mobile communication services, as well as flower delivery, are also offered under the ALDI brand in various countries. Since 2017, they have included online games and e-books as well.
Number of products and proportion of own-brand products in the standard product range (in per cent)1
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of products |
Proportion of own brands |
Number of products |
Proportion of own brands |
Number of products |
Proportion of own brands |
|
|
Belgium/Luxembourg2 |
1,113 |
99.7 |
1,373 |
97.6 |
1,465 |
96.1 |
|
Denmark |
1,394 |
87.7 |
1,651 |
81.0 |
1,826 |
75.5 |
|
Germany |
1,183 |
94.8 |
1,461 |
94.0 |
1,432 |
91.1 |
|
France |
1,210 |
94.6 |
1,450 |
95.1 |
1,452 |
90.9 |
|
Netherlands |
1,238 |
97.7 |
1,437 |
94.2 |
1,737 |
93.5 |
|
Poland |
1,339 |
88.6 |
1,700 |
86.8 |
2,101 |
73.6 |
|
Portugal |
1,477 |
92.3 |
1,505 |
85.3 |
1,639 |
85.8 |
|
Spain |
1,422 |
90.2 |
1,609 |
89.7 |
1,842 |
89.6 |
|
ALDI Nord Group |
1,297 |
92.9 |
1,523 |
90.2 |
1,687 |
86.2 |
1 We set clear standards for our own brands with respect to our suppliers.
2The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and in Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").
[GRI 102-11, -16] Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) Policy is an integral part of the entire ALDI North Group. It picks up on our corporate mission statement and presents our understanding of CR. It also specifies the fields of action where we put our corporate responsibility into practice. Within our CR Programme, we set clear goals for all fields of action and communicate our progress where they are concerned as part of the Sustainability Report, among other channels.
Our fields of action at a glance
|
Objective |
Status |
Target date |
Target value |
Target relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Development of a training programme for enhancing managers’ skills |
new |
2019 |
Concept |
Poland |
|
Increase in employee communication |
new |
2019 |
More channels of communication for ALDI employees, among other things |
Germany |
Target achieved
Ongoing Process
|
Objective |
Status |
Target date |
Target value |
Target relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
All production facilities located in amfori BSCI risk countries, which manufacture non-food own-brand products for the ALDI North Group, have a valid and adequate social audit (Business Social Compliance Initiative – amfori BSCI) |
|
2019 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Integration of selected production facilities for non-food own-brand products into the qualification programme ALDI Factory Advancement (AFA) Project for improving the working conditions by means of dialogue promotion between workers and managers in Bangladesh |
|
Ongoing |
Continuation and expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Establishment and management of a dedicated inspection process in Asia |
|
2017 |
Establishment and management of a dedicated inspection process in Asia |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Provision of verification for a social evaluation (GRASP or comparable) of all producers (growers) of fruit and vegetables |
|
2018 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of all flowers and plants for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified goods (e.g. GLOBALG.A.P. in combination with GRASP) |
new |
2019 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Ban on specific groups of substances in the manufacture of own-brand products in the product groups clothing, home textiles and footwear (ALDI Detox Commitment) |
|
2020 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Preparation and publication of an International Cotton Purchasing Policy |
Target for Germany achieved |
2017 |
Purchasing policy |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Use of sustainable cotton (e.g. GOTS, OCS 100/blended, Fairtrade, recycled cotton) for clothing and home textiles |
new |
Ongoing |
Expansion depending on availability in the respective quality category |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Use of sustainable cotton (e.g. in accordance with the GOTS, OCS, Fairtrade standard) |
new |
2018 |
30% |
Germany |
|
Increase in the certified share of green coffee (UTZ, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic) for defined own-brand products |
new |
2020 |
Expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of black and green tea to sustainably certified raw goods (UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, organic) for defined own-brand products |
new |
2018 |
80% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of herbal and fruit tea for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified raw goods (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ, UEBT/UTZ, organic) |
new |
2018 |
30% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of herbal and fruit tea for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified raw goods (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ, UEBT/UTZ, organic) |
new |
2020 |
40% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover to certified resources (UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade) for own-brand products with a substantial proportion of cocoa in the standard and promotional product range within the defined scope of application |
|
2017 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover to physically RSPO-certified palm oil for all own-brand products containing palm oil (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil – RSPO) |
|
2018 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Preparation and publication of an International Timber Purchasing Policy |
|
2017 |
Purchasing policy |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of wood and wood-based products to sustainably certified materials (FSC®, PEFC™, EU Ecolabel or comparable standards) |
new |
2020 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Changeover of all newly purchased sales packaging, repackaging and transport packaging for products to recycled and/or sustainably certified materials (FSC®, PEFC™, EU Ecolabel or comparable standards), depending on availability |
new |
2020 |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Expansion of the range of vegetarian and vegan products, including certification (e.g. V-Label) |
new |
Ongoing |
Expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Expansion of test/certification systems and own standards that go above and beyond the statutory requirements and include animal welfare aspects |
new |
Ongoing |
Expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Increase in the number of meat products and products containing meat with the ALDI Transparency Code (ATC) |
new |
Ongoing |
Expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Increase in the share of certified sustainable fish products and products containing fish (MSC, ASC, GLOBALG.A.P. and EU organic) |
new |
2018 |
50% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Expansion of efforts to reduce the salt and sugar content in additional own-brand products |
new |
Ongoing |
Expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Labelling of all fruit and vegetable products grown in the Netherlands with the PlanetProof environmental quality label |
new |
2019 |
100% |
Netherlands |
|
Introduction of BEE FRIENDLY-certified products |
new |
2019 |
Preparation and development |
France |
Target achieved
Ongoing process
|
Objective |
Status |
Target date |
Target value |
Target relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2021 compared to the reference year 2015 |
new |
2021 |
-40% compared to 2015 |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Introduction of LED lighting in all new stores (interior and outdoor lighting), and review of conversion of existing stores in the portfolio and distribution centres to LED lighting |
|
2019 (and ongoing) |
100% |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Increasing the share of stores equipped with photovoltaic systems |
|
Ongoing |
Continuation and expansion |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Development of a concept for recording, analysing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
|
2017 |
Concept |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Development of a concept for the introduction of an energy monitoring and management system |
Target for Germany achieved |
2017 |
Concept |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Increasing the own-use rate for the energy generated in-house by photovoltaic systems at stores through combination with concepts for combined cooling and heating systems, and demand-led alignment of the photovoltaic systems |
|
Ongoing |
Continuation and expansion |
Germany |
|
Investigation of alternative drive concepts for use in logistics processes |
|
2017 |
Investigation |
Germany |
|
Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants |
|
Ongoing |
100% |
Germany |
|
Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants |
new |
2017 |
100% |
Netherlands |
|
Gradual changeover of all plug-in chillers and freezers to the refrigerant propane (R290) with very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) |
|
Ongoing |
100% |
Germany |
|
Discontinuation of the plastic bag |
new |
2018 |
100% |
Germany, Netherlands, Belgium |
|
Establishment of a BREEAM-certified central warehouse (BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment) |
new |
2019 |
Establishment |
Belgium |
|
Nationwide ISO 50001 certification |
new |
2018 |
100% |
Netherlands |
Target achieved
Ongoing process
|
Objective |
Status |
Target date |
Target value |
Target relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Development of pilot projects for sustainable consumption |
|
2018 |
Project |
Germany |
|
Introduction of a guideline for dealing with food that is no longer saleable in the stores |
Still in development |
2017 |
Preparation and introduction |
ALDI Nord Group |
|
Continuation and expansion of efforts to foster health awareness among customers and employees |
new |
Ongoing |
Continuation and expansion |
Netherlands |
|
Expansion of dialogue with major stakeholder groups |
|
Ongoing |
Participation in sector initiatives |
ALDI Nord Group |
Target achieved
Ongoing process
Further country-specific objectives are available on the pages of the nine European countries in which the ALDI North Group is represented.
We support the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) and do our part to achieving them. Our activities are centred on ensuring that our range of own-brand products is sustainable throughout the value chain and on promoting responsible consumption. This allows us to help achieve the following SDGs and the respective sub-goals: responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SGD 13), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and life on land (SDG 15).
By joining the United Nations Global Compact in 2017, we underlined once more that sustainability is at the heart of our system of corporate values.
GRI
