A warm welcome for Aldi officially opens new Waterford City store
ALDI City Square staff with Store Manager Robbie Kavanagh and Ireland and Munster rugby player Jack O’Donoghue at ALDI’s newly opened store in Waterford, located at City Square Shopping Centre. The state-of-the-art store replaces ALDI’s existing store at The Glen and continues ALDI’s tradition of providing excellent service and value to Waterford City customers since 2006. Photograph: Patrick Browne
Aldi’s new €3.8 million state-of-the-art store has opened in Waterford City centre.
Around 80 people queued outside the new store in City Square Shopping Centre on Thursday morning, with more piling in after the ribbon was cut and the first sales underway.
The store was officially opened by the local team, led by Store Manager Robbie Kavanagh and Ireland rugby player Jack O’Donoghue.
Mr Kavanagh said his team are excited to welcome customers.
“ We are delighted to open our new store in Waterford City, continuing our support for the local community.
“We believe this new store will be a great addition to the area, offering a wide range of products at unbeatable prices, and we look forward to continuing to serve the people of Waterford for many years to come,” said Mr Kavanagh.
The new store replaces the one in the Glen, which was the first Aldi store in Waterford and opened in 2006.
The new store is 1,310 sqm and offers a new layout to fit what new customers might be used to.
Fruit and veg shelves are in a straight line, and special grocery buys are on shelves.
Nine new self-service checkouts, but customers will still have the option to visit the staff checkouts too.
According to Aldi, the store is powered with 100% green energy and designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
New electronic shelf labelling is in place for price updates.
City Square Centre Manager Denis Carroll said the new Aldi is a great addition to the stores in the shopping centre.
City Square boasts a huge range of high-street stores, including Carraig Donn, River Island, Dunnes Stores, JD Sports, Vero Moda, Name-It, Hallmark, Dubray, Golden Discs, Mulligan’s Pharmacy and Bookstation.
“We are delighted to welcome Aldi into their new state-of-the-art store in City Square today. We would like to wish store manager Robbie Kavanagh and his entire team great success in the new store and welcome them to the overall City Square team," said Mr Carroll.
The City Square location is open from 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 9pm on Sunday.
Councillor Declan Barry, who attended the launch, said the new store was great for the city centre.
“It’s absolutely fabulous and really going to benefit the city and footfall in the city centre. Other stores are going to a bit of spin-off from it. It really is state of the art, and I really do wish them all the best going forward to Aldi and all the staff, Robbie, the manager,” said Cllr Barry.
Waterford native Jack O’Donoghue presented schoolchildren from Scoil Lorcáin National School with Aldi Play Rugby kits and vouchers.
Aldi has a number of community initiatives.
Locally, Waterford Animal Welfare, Waterford Autism Social and Sports Action and Pieta House have all benefited from the Aldi Community Grants Programme.
Aldi also works with FoodCloud, who redistribute surplus food to community groups.
Aldi in Waterford has donated 50,140kgs of food and 119,381 meals, according to the Aldi Ireland Economic Impact Report.
Speaking after the opening, Mr O’Donoghue praised Aldi’s commitment to supporting communities.
“Aldi’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, to supporting local grassroots organisations, and to help make quality, healthy food affordable to all is something I am very proud to be associated with,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
Since 2006, Aldi has invested €28 million in Waterford, according to the Aldi Ireland Economic Impact Report.
There are five stores in Waterford in Dungarvan, Ashe Road, Tramore, Ardkeen and now City Square, employing 127 people in the Deise.
Aldi has spent €29 million with local suppliers, and four currently work with the supermarket chain.
And in 2024, 3.1 million customers visited Aldi stores in Waterford.
