Aldi has confirmed that every one of its UK stores will close for three key days over the Christmas period.
The German discount chain, which operates more than 1,050 branches across Britain, will shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The announcement this week, means customers will not be able to shop in Aldi on December 25 or 26, with doors reopening on Saturday, December 27.
Stores will then close again on January 1, 2026, before resuming normal trade on Friday, January 2.
The move is set to affect millions of festive shoppers who often rely on last-minute supermarket trips for forgotten ingredients, Boxing Day bargains or extra household essentials.
With Aldi pulling down the shutters after trading on Christmas Eve, families are being advised to plan ahead and stock up early.
Between December 27 and December 31, stores will operate as normal.
However, all branches will again shut on New Year’s Day in line with the retailer’s long-standing approach to giving staff extra time off.
Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.
Workers will get Christmas off.
|GETTY/ALDI
To help customers prepare for the festive season, Aldi has promised longer opening hours in the run-up to Christmas.
Store times will vary by location, and shoppers are encouraged to check their local branch schedules online before making a trip.
Rebecca Heley, Aldi UK’s communications director, explained the decision.
She said: "Christmas is a special time, and we want to ensure all of our colleagues have the opportunity to relax and enjoy it with their loved ones. That’s why all Aldi stores will be closed on Boxing Day this year.
"We know how hard colleagues work to deliver an amazing Christmas for our customers, and this is one small way of saying thank you."
Store times will vary by location, and shoppers are encouraged to check their local branch schedules online before making a trip.
| ALDIThe move continues Aldi’s policy from recent years, when it has also given staff time off during key festive dates rather than pushing to maximise seasonal trade.
It highlights the retailer’s focus on staff welfare as well as its ability to retain customer loyalty despite temporary closures.
Retail experts suggest the gesture will likely be welcomed by employees who face intense workloads in December, a month when demand for groceries, alcohol and seasonal products reaches its annual peak.
Allowing three days off provides a morale boost at a time when work–life balance can be particularly difficult to maintain.
Aldi is not the only retailer opting for festive closures.
B&M has announced it will shut on Christmas Day, though its stores will reopen on Boxing Day to catch early bargain hunters.
Home Bargains is going further, matching Aldi’s three-day closure schedule.
It will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve and remain shut until December 27, also confirming a New Year’s Day closure.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Industry observers say the approach could strengthen brand loyalty among workers.
| AldiThe trend is gaining traction as British retailers move away from traditional holiday trading in favour of offering their staff uninterrupted time with family.
Industry observers say the approach could strengthen brand loyalty among workers and customers alike, particularly as shoppers increasingly plan purchases earlier in December.
By extending pre-Christmas opening hours and encouraging advance planning, Aldi aims to ensure customers can still stock up while staff enjoy a proper break.
For Britain’s fourth-biggest supermarket, the decision signals that employee welfare is taking priority over squeezing every last pound from the Christmas trading calendar.