Crowds Line Up for Aldi's Fountain Valley Grand Opening

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA Crowds lined up around the corner in Fountain Valley to be among the first to try out the new German discount supermarket chain Aldi.

After much anticipation, the store celebrated its grand opening Thursday, and the first 100 customers received gift Aldi cards.

So what’s the big deal? Discounts. Extreme discounts.

The chain, which operates in nearly three dozen states, claims it can cut customer’s grocery bills by 50 percent by selling popular items under an Aldi label. Private brand selections at ALDI include gluten-free (Live g-Free); “free-from” pure foods (Simply Nature); premium specialty (Specially Selected); and better-for-you items (Fit & Active), according to Supermarket News.

The 10 Southern California openings Thursday increase bring the number of stores in the region to 18. By the end of the year, the company plans to have 45 stores in Southern California.

Aldi operates nearly 1,500 stores in 32 states and nearly 10,000 around the world.

In addition to Fountain Valley, the stores that opened Thursday included:

• 275 S. Euclid St., Anaheim;
• 1403 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia;
• 8351 La Palma Ave., Buena Park;
• 11530 South St., Cerritos;
• 1400 N. Azusa Ave, Covina;
• 3330 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood;
• 2268 Foothill Blvd., La Verne;
• 740 W. Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale; and
• 4020 Highland Ave., San Bernardino.

City News Service and Patch staffer By MARY ANN BARTON contributed to this report. Photo: ALDI US courtesy of Mackenzie Menia