Aldi, the no-frills supermarket chain that operates stores on Highway 153 in Hixson, on Lee Highway in East Brainerd and on Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, is now accepting credit cards.
The German-based grocer previously accepted only cash and debit cards. Aldi said the move to allow credit card purchases is intended to attract more shoppers and help it compete with other retailers that accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
"As Aldi continues to evolve by expanding its product lines and moving into new markets, the way we do business will continue to evolve as well," Jason Hart, the CEO of Aldi said in an announcment today. "We care about being able to make our customers' shopping experiences simpler and better every time they come to see us; and offering them the convenience of using their credit cards will help us do just that."
Allowing credit card purchases cuts into the profit margins for retailers, but the move is expected to help boost Aldi sales. Hart aid the company is committed to low food prices.
"One thing that will never change at Aldi is our unmatched shopping experience," he said. "Our customers will continue to save money on the high-quality groceries the y buy the most."
Aldi operates nearly 1,500 stores in 32 states ihat collectively serve nearly 45 million Americans. The grocer has plans to have nearly 2,000 stores by 2018. Later this month, Aldi will launch its first stores in Southern California.