Overview
- Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd publicly confirmed on Monday that they will not offer discounts that are available only through supermarket apps and that the shelf price will apply to every customer.
- The company frames the move as a return to simple discounting based on small stores, a limited 2,000-item assortment and a high share of private labels that it says keep prices low without conditional rebates.
- Consumer groups welcomed the announcement because app-only deals can exclude shoppers without smartphones and collect personal shopping data, and the Verbraucherzentrale has already filed a discrimination suit over such programs.
- Aldi has launched an external campaign to promote its stance, arguing that removing app requirements spares customers the burden of activating coupons and stops retailers from nudging shoppers through personalized offers.
- The decision could raise pressure on other chains and regulators to rethink app-based loyalty schemes, but many competitors still use app discounts and legal and market responses are likely to develop over time.