Aldi has revealed areas where it could open new stores - with Dorchester on the list.

In its annual trading update, Aldi said it had attracted record numbers of new shoppers in the past six months as pandemic restrictions were lifted.

The latest data from Kantar shows Aldi attracted 1.5 million extra customers to its stores over the past 12 weeks and sales grew at 18.7%.

Aldi said its buying teams were working tirelessly to counter the impact of inflation and maintain its discount against traditional full-price supermarkets.

The supermarket, which has over 970 stores, said it planned to open 16 more stores before the end of the year and will create an estimated 6,000 jobs across the country in the next year alone as it continues to expand. 

Aldi is searching for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for property development. The sites should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.

Aldi will also be investing in the development of new and expanded distribution centres, including its new distribution centres in Bedford and distribution centre in Leicestershire.

Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer for Aldi UK and Ireland, said: "The cost-of-living crisis is worsening, and it's being felt by millions of households across the UK. It's in times like these when our customers rely on us the most, which is why we're focusing on continuing to deliver our longstanding price promise by offering the lowest possible prices in Britain, every single day.

"Independent research shows our discount is as compelling as ever and that's why more and more people are switching to Aldi. We will do whatever it takes to maintain our discount to the traditional full-price supermarkets and keep grocery prices as low as possible for the millions of customers that shop with Aldi."