TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Frugal Shoppers Flock To New Store

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2008

BRANDON - Shoppers bent on bargains jammed the parking lot and packed the aisles Thursday at the grand opening of an Aldi grocery store at Brandon Boulevard and Kingsway Road.

The German grocery chain opened five stores in the Tampa Bay area the same day and is set to open five more by Nov. 10. The chain asserts its prices beat those of mainstream supermarkets by 40 percent and big-box and discount stores by 16 to 24 percent.

To cut operating costs, customers bag their groceries and pay a 25 cent refundable deposit to rent carts.
Dodging cars and customers in the parking lot of the 16,000-square-foot store, Matt Cradick, Aldi's director of operations, said he was thrilled but not surprised by the turnout.

"There are a lot of savvy customers here today who appreciate the opportunity to save some money," he said. "It's going gangbusters."

Laura Frazier

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT