DISCOUNT supermarket Aldi is aiming to open a new front in Wyedean’s store wars, as part of plans to open 130 new outlets across the UK over the next two years.

Monmouth, Chepstow and Caldicot are among 27 sites reportedly being targeted in Wales by the German retailer, which became the UK’s fifth largest supermarket last year after overtaking the Co-op.

Having clocked up annual sales of £10bn for the first time, Aldi said it aimed to remain the nation’s cheapest grocer as it met Tesco’s launch of discount chain Jack’s head on with its aggressive expansion announcement, which will take its portfolio to more than 900 outlets.

The news of its local targets is the latest salvo in Wyedean’s store wars, with Lidl heading off Aldi’s planning bid earlier this year to open an edge-of-town store in Coleford’s Tufthorn Avenue in favour of its own town centre application.

Lidl is hosting a public consultation day tomorrow (Thursday, October 4) from 1pm to 7pm at Unit 4, Mushet Walk, Coleford, to outline its plans for a new town store.

The Coleford clash followed a long-running dispute between Aldi and Mid-Counties Co-op, with the latter winning a court battle to overturn the former’s original 2016 planning permission, which has since been rejected in favour of Lidl’s late Lords Hill bid to build a store.

Lidl has also applied to build an out-of-town store in Ross-on-Wye, where Aldi is already trading.

Announcing its intention to open another 130 stores across the UK by 2020, Aldi said the nationwide move will create 5,000 jobs as it targets 1,000 stores by 2022.

Sales grew 16.4 per cent across the UK and Ireland to a record £10.2 billion in 2017, with full-year operating profits up 26 per cent to £265.9 million, having attracted a further 1.1 million shoppers last year, it said.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “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.

“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.”