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Aldi drops credit card ban at its supermarkets in England Aldi drops credit card ban at its supermarkets in England
(about 1 hour later)
Aldi has started accepting credit cards at all its branches as part of its drive to attract more business from Britain’s struggling big supermarkets. Aldi is to start accepting credit cards at all its branches as part of its drive to attract more business from Britain’s struggling big supermarkets.
A notice on the discount retailer’s website said: “We are now accepting credit card payments in all our stores. So there are more ways to pay for the quality and value that you’ve come to expect from Aldi.” Letting shoppers pay by credit cards is the latest move by the German retailer to attract middle-class shoppers after expanding its range and introducing more upmarket goods. Its English stores,which will start accepting credit cards from 13 October, previously took cash and debit cards, which cost retailers less to process than credit cards. Branches in Scotland and some in Wales did accept credit cards.
Letting shoppers pay by Visa or Mastercard is the latest move by the German retailer to attract middle-class shoppers after expanding its range and introducing more upmarket goods. Its English stores previously took cash and debit cards, which cost retailers less to process than credit cards. Branches in Scotland and some in Wales did accept credit cards.
“It is another potential barrier to shopping at Aldi that we are smashing down,” Matthew Barnes, Aldi’s joint UK managing director, told the Financial Times.“It is another potential barrier to shopping at Aldi that we are smashing down,” Matthew Barnes, Aldi’s joint UK managing director, told the Financial Times.
English customers have complained on Aldi’s Facebook page and online forums about not being able to use their credit cards when shoppers in Scotland can. Aldi said it was experimenting with accepting credit cards in Scottish and Welsh branches.English customers have complained on Aldi’s Facebook page and online forums about not being able to use their credit cards when shoppers in Scotland can. Aldi said it was experimenting with accepting credit cards in Scottish and Welsh branches.
Barnes and his fellow UK boss, Roman Heini, have said they are prepared to take a cut in profit margins to thwart any fightback by Tesco, Morrisons and the other big grocers.Barnes and his fellow UK boss, Roman Heini, have said they are prepared to take a cut in profit margins to thwart any fightback by Tesco, Morrisons and the other big grocers.
Aldi revealed record annual profits for last year. Pre-tax profit increased by almost two-thirds to £261m on a sales rise of 36% to £5.3bn.Aldi revealed record annual profits for last year. Pre-tax profit increased by almost two-thirds to £261m on a sales rise of 36% to £5.3bn.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have each lost market share to Aldi and its German rival Lidl. Both chains have lured customers with low prices sold from small, basic stores.Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have each lost market share to Aldi and its German rival Lidl. Both chains have lured customers with low prices sold from small, basic stores.
• This article was amended on 29 September to clarify that Aldi is to accept credit cards from 13 October