Aldi is seeking permission to sell alcohol at its soon-to-open Newport branch as the discount supermarket continues a rapid UK expansion programme.

The retailer has applied to Newport City Council for a premises licence for units 3 and 4 at 28 East Retail Park, where it wants to be allowed to sell alcohol for off-site consumption between 6am and midnight every day. According to the council notice published by Aldi’s solicitors, Freeths LLP, residents and other interested parties have until 8 July to make written representations, and the licensing register can be inspected at the Civic Centre on weekdays.

The application comes as Aldi presses ahead with one of its biggest investment drives in the UK. The company recently said it plans to spend more than £370 million on opening 40 new stores in 2026, as part of a wider £1.6 billion, two-year programme aimed at reaching 1,500 UK stores in the long term. It has also said it will invest more than £300 million in upgrading and extending existing branches, including more energy-efficient features and improved layouts.

Newport is among a fresh batch of locations announced by Aldi, alongside sites in Watford, Hoxton in London, Hattersley in Greater Manchester and Balsall Common in the West Midlands. The East Retail Park branch is expected to join other retailers at the site, including B&M, Halfords, Sports Direct and Topps Tiles, while other Aldi supermarkets in the wider area include stores in Cwmbran, Blackwood, Ebbw Vale, Caldicot and Abergavenny.

Jonathan Neale, Aldi UK’s managing director of national real estate, said the company was committed to widening access to affordable food and supporting local economies through its store openings and pay offers. Aldi said earlier this year that store colleague pay had risen to £13.50 an hour nationally, increasing to £14.47 with length of service.

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