Discount grocer ALDI plans to open 25 new stores in California by next July, and have 45 stores serving Southern California by the end of 2016. The company currently operates 1,400 stores across 32 states. ALDI is hailed as a nationally-recognized low-price grocer committed to value and innovation-focused private brand development. In 2014, ALDI was recognized as the nation’s low-price grocery leader for the fourth year in a row in a consumer survey, ahead of Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Trader Joe’s.