Tasmanians may soon have access to the highly sought-after Aldi brand, with a billionaire developer determined to persuade the supermarket chain to expand south.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman, who is spearheading the newly announced $500 million Wilkinsons Point development in Glenorchy, says he has heard the calls from Tasmanians for Aldi to open on the island.
“We’re talking to a lot of people, but I’ve been seriously advocated by everyone that I should be talking to ALDI,” he told reporters at Wilkinsons Point this morning.
“As soon as I’m walking out of here, I’m picking up the phone and calling ALDI and seeing how we can get them here.”
“I’ve heard it loud and clear from the Tasmanian people. So we’ll see if they want us, [it] sounds like we want them, so we’ll try to facilitate.”
Tasmania is currently the only Australian state without an Aldi store, a fact that has long frustrated locals.
In April 2024, Aldi CEO Anna McGrath told a senate inquiry into supermarket prices that the company has “no current plan” to open in Tasmania.
“Tasmania, far north Queensland, with the distance and the complexities of the supply chain, it just makes it less easy,” she said.
“That’s not to say that we don’t continuously review where we may expand in the future.”
Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey said today that she would consider erecting a statue in honour of Kestelman if he could secure Aldi.
“They’re one of the best supermarkets around, and certainly our population are definitely calling out for an Aldi,” she said.
“If Larry is good enough to be able to facilitate that, we might consider a statue. Or a little fountain. Or I might plant a tree. I don’t know yet.”
The Tasmanian Government announced today that they will sell the crown land at Wilkinsons Point to Larry Kestelman’s LK Group for the multi-use retail precinct, family resort and hotel.
Aldi was contacted for comment.
