Aldi wants to build housing in at least 30 locations in the capital – more than 2000 apartments are to be created in combination with new branches, then rented out.
“The situation in and around Berlin concerns us in two ways,” says Jörg Michalek, the managing director of Aldi’s property management business.
He said that the higher the population growth, the higher the demand for Aldi markets will grow in tandem.
“Our demand arises above all in locations with large-scale sales outlets.
“And of course we would like to be there for our customers.
“The combination of Aldi markets and connected housing is therefore a consistent and above all forward-looking solution,” he added.
The company believes it will be easier for it to obtain building permits if it can promising housing in high-rise buildings – combining Aldi supermarkets and apartments – instead of the one-storey constructions which house the bulk of the chain’s outlets.
Pilot projects to build 200 Aldi apartments in the Berlin districts of Lichtenberg and Neukölln are already underway.
Aldi is split in two in Germany – Aldi North and a South.
The building project is the brainchild of the company’s northern arm.
“With the pilot projects we want to set the starting signal for a successful cooperation with the city of Berlin and especially its municipalities,” added Herr Michalek.
Aldi is one of the UK’s biggest retailers but it is not known if the company will go into the property business in other European locations.