Does Aldi Deliver in Australia in 2024? Comprehensive Analysis
Since entering the Australian market in 2001, Aldi has quickly expanded to nearly 600 stores nationwide. As online grocery delivery soars in popularity across the developed world, many Aussie shoppers wonder if Aldi offers or plans to offer delivery services. This article provides an objective, data-driven assessment of Aldi‘s current and future delivery capabilities in Australia.
Current Status of Aldi Delivery in Australia
While leading supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths have offered delivery for years, Aldi only recently began limited deliveries in 2021—but with restrictions. Aldi‘s delivery reach focuses solely on oversized Special Buys products available intermittently.
As of January 2023, the Special Buys delivery program has expanded to 86% of postcodes in NSW, 87% in Victoria, and 83% in Queensland. Products shipped include furniture, mattresses, appliances, outdoor items, and electronics ordered online at Aldi‘s Special Buys website.
However, despite the expanded eligibility, grocery delivery remains unavailable. You still cannot get typical Aldi products like fresh food, refrigerated items, or smaller household goods transported to your home.
Products Available and Unavailable for Delivery
| Product Type | Delivery Available? |
|---|---|
| Non-food Special Buys | ✅ Yes |
| Groceries | ❌ No |
| Fresh food | ❌ No |
| Frozen items | ❌ No |
| Small appliances | ❌ No |
| Alcohol | ❌ No |
This makes Aldi‘s current delivery offerings useful for supplementing occasional Special Buys purchases but inadequate as a grocery solution.
The Growth Trajectory of Online Grocery Shopping
To evaluate if and when Aldi might expand delivery capabilities, it helps to examine the accelerating growth of the online grocery industry.
Australia‘s online grocery market is projected to hit AU$24.5 billion by 2026, representing massive growth from AU$2 billion in 2019, says IBISWorld data.
Similarly, Statista finds that 28% of Australian consumers bought groceries online in 2022, doubling the 14% rate just two years earlier in 2020.
Globally, the online grocery market is accelerating as well. The market is forecast to reach nearly US$1.5 trillion by 2030, displaying a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.8%, adds UnivDatos Market Insights & Consulting.
The market trends reveal steady growth in consumer demand, validating expectations for Australian grocers like Aldi to meet shopper preferences for delivery convenience.
Projecting Aldi‘s Expansion of Delivery Services
At first, Aldi Australia was slow to offer on-demand services compared to competitors. Yet they‘ve hinted at an intention to unlock national delivery capabilities—likely within the next three years based on global benchmarks.
Germany-based Aldi Süd, parent company of Aldi Australia, first moved into grocery delivery in 2022. Typically, the Australian branches emulate best practices from headquarters with a 1-3 year lag.
So while Aldi Australia already has specialized distribution centers and a delivery-ready website, they are still likely working out logistics kinks the German operations recently solved. Extending delivery to all products could happen as early as 2024 but more reasonably by 2025.
Until then, Aussies seeking full-service Aldi delivery can leverage third-party apps like Milkrun or Shopmate that offer Aldi sourcing and delivery for a fee. Ultimately, Aldi has the supply and technical infrastructure in place with projected grocery delivery down the road.
The Bottom Line
In summary, Aldi does currently deliver oversized Special Buys items in most regions of NSW, Victoria, and Queensland to meet limited e-commerce demand. However, given massive growth in the online grocery industry, Aldi will likely expand delivery capabilities nationally across their full product range within 1-3 years.
So while Aldi does not yet fully deliver in Australia, projections point to comprehensive services right around the corner as they complete technical rollouts. Stay tuned for updates!
