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Management

[GRI 102-16] ALDI Nord is an internationally successful discounter. We provide broad groups of consumers in nine countries with high-quality products at consistently low prices. “Simplicity, responsibility and reliability” – these values guide our actions and have been codified in our “Simply ALDI” mission statement. The mission statement provides a clear sense of direction for more than 69,000 ALDI employees.

Our everyday decisions have implications across our entire value chain, which is why assuming corporate responsibility (CR) is part of our understanding of business. We assume such responsibility not least to ensure our competitiveness in the long term, as we strive to set standards in the food retail industry and continue expanding our market position.

Net sales of the ALDI Nord Group

Total net sales of the business year (in billion euros)

Nettoumsatz – ALDI Nord
Stores and employees [GRI 102-7]

Total number of stores and number of employees (headcount) by gender and region on the reporting date 31 December

Number of stores

Number of employees

of which female

Number of stores

Number of employees

of which female

Number of stores

Number of employees

of which female

Belgium/Luxembourg1

461

6,256

4,452

457

6,412

4,455

459

6,727

4,804

Denmark

220

2,037

1,051

222

2,184

1,128

188

2,277

1,099

Germany

2,339

31,429

22,521

2,298

35,215

25,405

2,249

35,836

25,511

France

899

7,420

4,533

891

8,243

5,204

888

9,218

5,592

Netherlands

498

6,291

3,893

491

6,300

3,857

494

8,654

5,099

Poland

105

1,160

1,002

118

1,466

1,254

124

1,906

1,706

Portugal

47

613

416

48

803

535

57

1,178

768

Spain

260

2,973

1,889

264

3,456

2,174

272

3,571

2,263

ALDI Nord Group

4,829

58,179

39,757

4,789

64,079

44,012

4,731

69,367

46,842

1 The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and in Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to  "Subject of the report").

Always in focus: our customers

[GRI 102-2, -6, -7, -9] For more than 100 years, our customers’ needs have been the focus of our business activities. Their expectations of us are rising – which is why we never stop evolving. Through our modernisation measure known as the ALDI Instore Konzept (ANIKo), we are giving our stores a brighter, friendlier design featuring new colours and a clear presentation of products to provide even better orientation. We are also expanding our range of food and non-food items. However, ALDI North is more than just the sum of its products. Our goal is to be the discounter that understands people best, making us the one they feel closest to in the process. We want to make it possible for them to have a high-quality, straightforward, simple and affordable shopping experience – every day.

The heart of our product range is provided by the ALDI North Group own brands, which make up 86 per cent of the offerings on average. Selected brand-name products complete the product range. We are providing our customers with an ever greater selection of healthier and more sustainable products. In Germany, for example, we are the leading retailer of organic food in the North sales region. In addition, we are offering a growing range of organic products in other countries where ALDI North operates as well.

On average, we carry some 1,600 products from 70 product groups at a store, which marks an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2016. The standard range is complemented by alternating promotional products, which we began offering three times a week starting in 2017. They include products such as textiles and footwear, electronics, household items, DIY and garden products. Online services, such as travel, photo, music or mobile communication services, as well as flower delivery, are also offered under the ALDI brand in various countries. Since 2017, they have included online games and e-books as well.

Products and own brands in the product range

Number of products and proportion of own-brand products in the standard product range (in per cent)1

Number of products

Proportion of own brands
(in %)

Number of products

Proportion of own brands
(in %)

Number of products

Proportion of own brands
(in %)

Belgium/Luxembourg2

1,113

99.7

1,373

97.6

1,465

96.1

Denmark

1,394

87.7

1,651

81.0

1,826

75.5

Germany

1,183

94.8

1,461

94.0

1,432

91.1

France

1,210

94.6

1,450

95.1

1,452

90.9

Netherlands

1,238

97.7

1,437

94.2

1,737

93.5

Poland

1,339

88.6

1,700

86.8

2,101

73.6

Portugal

1,477

92.3

1,505

85.3

1,639

85.8

Spain

1,422

90.2

1,609

89.7

1,842

89.6

ALDI Nord Group

1,297

92.9

1,523

90.2

1,687

86.2

1 We set clear standards for our own brands with respect to our suppliers.
2The information regarding the legally independent companies of the ALDI Nord Group in Belgium and in Luxembourg has been combined for the purposes of a simplified presentation (refer to "Subject of the report").

Our Responsibility: our corporate responsibility strategy

[GRI 102-11, -16] Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) Policy is an integral part of the entire ALDI North Group. It picks up on our corporate mission statement and presents our understanding of CR. It also specifies the fields of action where we put our corporate responsibility into practice. Within our CR Programme, we set clear goals for all fields of action and communicate our progress where they are concerned as part of the Sustainability Report, among other channels.

Our fields of action at a glance

  •  Employee appreciation: We want our employees to be proud of ALDI.
  • Supply chain responsibility: We accept responsibility in our supply chain.
  • Resource conservation: We act in an environmentally and climate friendly manner.
  • Social commitment: We want to leverage our expertise and experience, and contribute to finding a solution for societal challenges above and beyond our core business.
  • Dialogue promotion: We foster dialogue with our stakeholders transparently and openly.

 

Concrete and measurable: our CR Programme

Field of action: Employee appreciation

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

Development of a training programme for enhancing managers’ skills

new

2019

Concept

Poland

Increase in employee communication

new

2019

More channels of communication for ALDI employees, among other things

Germany

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North Target achieved Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North Ongoing Process
Field of action: Supply chain responsibility

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

All production facilities located in amfori BSCI risk countries, which manufacture non-food own-brand products for the ALDI North Group, have a valid and adequate social audit (Business Social Compliance Initiative –  amfori BSCI)

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2019

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Integration of selected production facilities for non-food own-brand products into the qualification programme ALDI Factory Advancement (AFA) Project for improving the working conditions by means of dialogue promotion between workers and managers in Bangladesh

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Establishment and management of a dedicated inspection process in Asia

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Establishment and management of a dedicated inspection process in Asia

ALDI Nord Group

Provision of verification for a social evaluation (GRASP or comparable) of all producers (growers) of fruit and vegetables

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2018

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of all flowers and plants for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified goods (e.g. GLOBALG.A.P. in combination with GRASP)

new

2019

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Ban on specific groups of substances in the manufacture of own-brand products in the product groups clothing, home textiles and footwear (ALDI Detox Commitment)

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2020

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Preparation and publication of an International Cotton Purchasing Policy

Target for Germany achieved

2017

Purchasing policy

ALDI Nord Group

Use of sustainable cotton (e.g. GOTS, OCS 100/blended, Fairtrade, recycled cotton) for clothing and home textiles

new

Ongoing

Expansion depending on availability in the respective quality category

ALDI Nord Group

Use of sustainable cotton (e.g. in accordance with the GOTS, OCS, Fairtrade standard)

new

2018

30%

Germany

Increase in the certified share of green coffee (UTZ, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic) for defined own-brand products

new

2020

Expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of black and green tea to sustainably certified raw goods (UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, organic) for defined own-brand products

new

2018

80%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of herbal and fruit tea for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified raw goods (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ, UEBT/UTZ, organic)

new

2018

30%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of herbal and fruit tea for defined own-brand products to sustainably certified raw goods (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ, UEBT/UTZ, organic)

new

2020

40%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover to certified resources (UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade) for own-brand products with a substantial proportion of cocoa in the standard and promotional product range within the defined scope of application

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover to physically RSPO-certified palm oil for all own-brand products containing palm oil (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil – RSPO)

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2018

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Preparation and publication of an International Timber Purchasing Policy

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Purchasing policy

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of wood and wood-based products to sustainably certified materials (FSC®, PEFC™, EU Ecolabel or comparable standards)

new

2020

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Changeover of all newly purchased sales packaging, repackaging and transport packaging for products to recycled and/or sustainably certified materials (FSC®, PEFC™, EU Ecolabel or comparable standards), depending on availability

new

2020

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Expansion of the range of vegetarian and vegan products, including certification (e.g. V-Label)

new

Ongoing

Expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Expansion of test/certification systems and own standards that go above and beyond the statutory requirements and include animal welfare aspects

new

Ongoing

Expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Increase in the number of meat products and products containing meat with the ALDI Transparency Code (ATC)

new

Ongoing

Expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Increase in the share of certified sustainable fish products and products containing fish (MSC, ASC, GLOBALG.A.P. and EU organic)

new

2018

50%

ALDI Nord Group

Expansion of efforts to reduce the salt and sugar content in additional own-brand products

new

Ongoing

Expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Labelling of all fruit and vegetable products grown in the Netherlands with the PlanetProof environmental quality label

new

2019

100%

Netherlands

Introduction of BEE FRIENDLY-certified products

new

2019

Preparation and development

France

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North Target achieved Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North Ongoing process
Field of action: Resource conservation

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2021 compared to the reference year 2015

new

2021

-40% compared to 2015

ALDI Nord Group

Introduction of LED lighting in all new stores (interior and outdoor lighting), and review of conversion of existing stores in the portfolio and distribution centres to LED lighting

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2019 (and ongoing)

100%

ALDI Nord Group

Increasing the share of stores equipped with photovoltaic systems

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

ALDI Nord Group

Development of a concept for recording, analysing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Concept

ALDI Nord Group

Development of a concept for the introduction of an energy monitoring and management system

Target for Germany achieved

2017

Concept

ALDI Nord Group

Increasing the own-use rate for the energy generated in-house by photovoltaic systems at stores through combination with concepts for combined cooling and heating systems, and demand-led alignment of the photovoltaic systems

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

Germany

Investigation of alternative drive concepts for use in logistics processes

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

2017

Investigation

Germany

Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

100%

Germany

Introduction of a nationwide, digitised monitoring system for cooling systems in order to reduce emissions through optimised leakage rates and/or more environmentally benign refrigerants

new

2017

100%

Netherlands

Gradual changeover of all plug-in chillers and freezers to the refrigerant propane (R290) with very low Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

100%

Germany

Discontinuation of the plastic bag

new

2018

100%

Germany, Netherlands, Belgium

Establishment of a BREEAM-certified central warehouse (BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment)

new

2019

Establishment

Belgium

Nationwide ISO 50001 certification

new

2018

100%

Netherlands

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North Target achieved Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North Ongoing process
Field of action: Social commitment & dialogue promotion

Objective

Status

Target date

Target value

Target relevance

Development of pilot projects for sustainable consumption

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

2018

Project

Germany

Introduction of a guideline for dealing with food that is no longer saleable in the stores

Still in development

2017

Preparation and introduction

ALDI Nord Group

Continuation and expansion of efforts to foster health awareness among customers and employees

new

Ongoing

Continuation and expansion

Netherlands

Expansion of dialogue with major stakeholder groups

Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North

Ongoing

Participation in sector initiatives

ALDI Nord Group

Target achieved – Sustainability at ALDI North Target achieved Ongoing process – Sustainability at ALDI North Ongoing process

Further country-specific objectives are available on the pages of the nine European countries in which the ALDI North Group is represented.

Clear commitment: our contribution to global sustainability goals

We support the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) and do our part to achieving them. Our activities are centred on ensuring that our range of own-brand products is sustainable throughout the value chain and on promoting responsible consumption. This allows us to help achieve the following SDGs and the respective sub-goals: responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SGD 13), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and life on land (SDG 15).

By joining the United Nations Global Compact in 2017, we underlined once more that sustainability is at the heart of our system of corporate values.

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