A NEW Aldi supermarket could be on the cards in south Shropshire, with the company revealing it is on the hunt for a new site.

In its annual trading update, Aldi said it had attracted around a million extra customers in the past 12 months with "a new generation of savvy shoppers turning their back on traditional, full-priced supermarkets".

Britain’s fourth largest supermarket, which opened its 1,000th store earlier this month, is committed to a long-term target of 1,500 stores in the UK – meaning it is on the hunt for more locations across the UK.

An Aldi spokesperson said the supermarket chain is looking for sites in Church Stretton and Ellesmere in Shropshire.

Aldi already has a supermarket in Ludlow's Station Drive.

It is also looking for sites in Hereford, Bewdley, and Badsey, in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire areas.

Aldi is searching for freehold town-centre, edge-of-centre, and retail park sites suitable for property development, the spokesperson said.

The sites should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.

The supermarket will also be investing in the development of new and expanded distribution centres, including its new distribution centre in Leicestershire.

Richard Thornton, communications director at Aldi UK, said: “We want to make our great value groceries accessible to all, and to do that we need more stores, particularly in towns and areas that don’t have an Aldi already.

“The areas we’ve identified in our latest list are places where there is demand for stores and we are committed to continue investing until we can bring our quality products and unbeatable prices to as many people as possible.”

Anybody who has a site that may fit Aldi’s requirements should contact info.nationalproperty@aldi.co.uk.

For more information on Aldi’s nationwide site requirements, visit: www.aldi.co.uk/about-aldi/property/required-towns