Aldi has announced the opening of its new Caldicot store in Newport Road on Thursday, August 19, on the site of the former Waitrose, which closed down last December.
And cut-price Russian outlet Mere, which already has 3,200 outlets across Europe, says it will be opening on the site of the former Store 21 clothing outlet right opposite later this year.
Lidl has also revealed its plans to move its current Bulwark operation to a bigger store at the site of the old Severn Bridge Social Club.
Aldi will launch first in two weeks under store manager Oliver Walters, alongside a team of 19 colleagues.
Meanwhile Mere are continuing with plans to open a no-frills store across the road, with its first UK outlet set to launch in Preston on August 14, followed later by three more stores including the one in Caldicot.
Lidl has also revealed its plans to move its existing Chepstow operation to a bigger site, which will provide 50 per cent more space.
A planning report says: “Owing to Lidl’s well established and growing local customer base, Lidl has outgrown its existing premises which no longer meets modern shopper requirements; a larger store is necessary to safely cater to local customer demand.”
It says a full planning application is being submitted to Monmouthshire Council for the demolition of the former Severn Bridge Social Club, which has been part of the community since 1965, and the erection of a supermarket with car parking and landscaping.
An Aldi spokesperson said: “As part of Aldi’s investment in local communities across the UK, its new Caldicot store will bring 15 new job opportunities and offer more customers access to Aldi’s high quality, low-price products.”
Ahead of the opening, Aldi Caldicot arranged for Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal rower Matt Langridge to deliver a virtual assembly for pupils at Durand Primary School
Matt delivered an “inspirational assembly” before the summer holidays as part of the supermarket’s Get Set to Eat Fresh initiative – which the business says has already inspired over 1.9 million school children aged five to 14 to learn more about the benefits of cooking fresh, healthy food with their families.
He focused on the benefits of eating healthy food, the importance of exercise and believing in yourself, his experience of competing as an Olympian and opened up on his challenging training regime.
Matt said: “I had a fantastic time speaking with the children at Durand Primary School. It was great to talk to them about the importance of eating healthily and how it can be fun to plan and prepare meals as a family.”
Children were also tasked by Aldi Caldicot with creating a poster to show what healthy eating means to them.
Matt announced the winner, Lexi Partridge, during the assembly where she was presented with a £20 Aldi voucher.
The new store will open from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9.30am to 4pm on Sunday, with the first half-hour for browsing.
Store boss Oliver Walters said: “We’re really looking forward to opening the new Aldi store here in Caldicot.
“It’s set to be a great day and it’ll be lovely to welcome local customers into the new store and provide them with access to affordable, high-quality food.”
The new Aldi is calling on local charities and food banks in Caldicot to register with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform that links businesses to charitable organisations in the local community.
Charities that register will be able to collect surplus food and perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to seven days a week.
Any interested charities can email [email protected]
To see the Lidl plans and make comments, go to consultations.tetratecheurope.com by next Thursday, August 12.