Typically, a German customer will stay loyal to a certain discount grocery store brand, which is additionally determined by practical factors such as location, accessibility, and product selection. It is also not uncommon to circulate between more than one discount food retailer. The best-known German discount grocery stores are undoubtedly Aldi, Lidl and Penny. Aldi and Lidl have also become international success stories, expanding far beyond Germany.
Aldi is split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. The different parts of the name refer to the regions in which stores are open, north (Nord) and south (Süd). The company is present in many other European countries and even on other continents. Aldi is hailed as the birth of the "discounter principle" in Germany. All stores are arranged similarly, with groceries stacked up in cardboard holders on palettes and available for customers to take out. As of 2021, the Aldi Group operated a total of 4,186 stores in Germany.
The next leading player on the discount grocer market, Lidl operates around 3,200 stores in Germany. Additionally, the brand has stores in many countries around the world, including the United States. Among other things, in Germany, the company is also known for focusing on selling products that were produced domestically. Lidl net sales worldwide have only increased in recent years, with almost 116 billion euros predicted for 2023.
