Aldi, has announced record results for its last financial year, with sales continuing to increase in 2018 as growing numbers of British shoppers switch from the "Big Four" - Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons.

Sales in the UK and Ireland rose 16.4% to £10.2bn in the year to 31st December 2017 (2016: £8.8bn) – a higher growth rate than the previous year (13.5%).

The supermarket – now Britain’s 5th biggest with over 775 stores – gained more market share than any other last year, attracting a further 1.1m shoppers.

Chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, Giles Hurley said: “The revolution in British grocery shows no sign of slowing. Savvy customers know they can swap and save with Aldi, thanks to great quality products at lower prices. This is happening on a massive scale, with more than 1.1m new customers shopping with us throughout 2017.

“While other grocers introduced more complexity into their businesses in their struggle to win back customers, we stuck to our guns and focused on doing what Aldi does best – buying smart, staying lean, improving quality and keeping prices low. Our biggest strength is our simplicity – a carefully selected range of exclusive own-label brands and award-winning products at the lowest prices. Millions of Britons can put fantastic-tasting food on their table every day of the week, at prices they can afford.”

Last year Aldi announced a £1bn capex investment during 2017 and 2018 to open new stores in every part of the UK, hundreds of store upgrades and extended distribution centres. The company has said it remains firmly on course to hit this target.

Looking further ahead, Aldi said it would open a further 130 new stores between 2019 and 2020, while continuing to invest in simpler layouts, improved fixtures and brighter, wider aisles. Over 200 existing stores will have been converted to the new format by the end of this year and a further 380 stores by the end of 2021, it reported.

To fuel its expanded store network, three new Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) are already planned for Sheppey, Sawley and Bedford in the coming years, as well as extensions to existing centres in Darlington and Bathgate. 

The company said its planned expansion would create 5,000 new jobs over the next two years. 

As the first retailer to sign the NFU’s Fruit and Veg Pledge, and the only one to sign its Horticultural Pledge, Aldi also signed a three-year partnership with the Prince’s Countryside Fund earlier this year as further evidence of its commitment to British farming and rural communities.

Giles Hurley, added: “Our future investment plans underline our continued commitment to growing responsibly in the UK. That means having a positive and lasting impact on the economies where we operate and improving the lives of British people. Our fundamental purpose remains – to bring outstanding quality groceries at the lowest prices for our customers, creating jobs and supporting British farming and manufacturing.

“In 2020, Aldi will have been serving British shoppers for 30 years. In that time, we’ve become part of the fabric of British life. We’re proud to be reaffirming our commitment today.”