Is ALDI Planning to Open Its 1st Location in Maine?

Discount grocer reportedly signed lease in Portland for former Big Lots site

2/7/2025

Last year, ALDI shared its plan to open 800 new stores by the end of 2028.

^{UPDATED FEB. 8}

ALDI has signed a lease agreement for retail space in Portland, Maine, according to local reports.

The agreement involves approximately 25,000 square feet of store space in Portland’s Pine Tree Shopping Center on 1100 Brighton Avenue, as reported by the Portland Press Herald. The space was previously occupied by a Big Lots store, which closed last year.

This would mark the supermarket chain’s first venture into Maine, although it’s not yet clear when the store would open or how many workers would be hired.

“We can confirm that we signed a lease with ALDI, contingent upon municipal approval,” Maria Pace, spokeswoman for Brixmor Property Group, said in an email to the Herald. “At this time, we do not have any additional information, but would be happy to share updates as we move forward in this process.

Meanwhile, on Feb. 7, news broke that ALDI is selling back some of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners that it purchased from Southeastern Grocers (SEG) last year. A consortium of private investors, led by the current SEG CEO and President Anthony Hucker and C&S Wholesale Grocers, announced the acquisition.

The agreement includes the acquisition of SEG grocery and liquor store operations under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket banners. This comprises about 170 grocery stores across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, in addition to the existing Winn-Dixie liquor store business. ALDI plans to complete its previously revealed conversion plans, with around 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores to be converted to the ALDI format over a multiyear process that began in March 2024, and is expected to wrap up in 2027.

According to Store Brands, ALDI is currently working to convert the nine Orlando, Fla.-area Winn-Dixie stores.

Overall, ALDI intends to open more than 225 stores in 2025, the most stores to be unveiled in one year during its nearly 50-year history.

ALDI U.S. serves millions of customers across the country each month with more than 2,300 stores in 38 states. The company is No. 28 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2024 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

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