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The Swiss retail landscape is not characterised by fierce competition, particularly, on price, with Migros and Coop more or less dominating the scene. The arrival of Aldi and Lidl, however, with their fiercely low prices, has been expected to shake matters up.

Aldi

  
The first outlets are expected to open at the beginning of next year, with NZZ's analysis putting a figure on just how many stores that will involve, for the first time. Basing itself on information available to the public, Aldi, it says, has already secured planning permission - or is close to doing so - for 48 stores, Lidl for 50.

Delegates at the Swiss Marketing Forum, it continues, heard this week that Aldi is in it for the long haul, prepared to invest for fully 10 to 15 years before releasing official sales figures. Company spokesman Sven Bradke confirmed to the Forum that the first shops would stock around 700 food and 'near food' items, deciding later whether to include special one-week offers, e.g. of bicycles, in its assortment. Floorspace will range between 900 and 1,500 square metres.

Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, at the NZZ website.  Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Aldis Swiss website which - with or without planning permission - is already up and running.