Rumours of Aldi store closures have sparked alarm among UK shoppers, but the recent announcement reveals a temporary festive shutdown rather than permanent exits. On 10 September 2025, Aldi confirmed all over 1,050 UK stores will close for three days over Christmas, prioritising staff wellbeing amid rising retail pressures.
This move, while real, eases fears of widespread Aldi store closures, highlighting instead a commitment to work-life balance in the budget supermarket sector.
Aldi Confirms Festive Shutdowns Across All UK Stores
Aldi UK's announcement on 10 September 2025 details closures on Christmas Day (25 December 2025), Boxing Day (26 December 2025), and New Year's Day (1 January 2026), with stores reopening on 27 December 2025 and 2 January 2026.
Communications director Rebecca Heley stated, 'Christmas is a special time, and we want to ensure all of our colleagues have the opportunity to relax and enjoy it with their loved ones.' This policy, in place for years, thanks staff who deliver peak trading, as echoed in a verified X post from @MENnewsdesk on 11 September 2025: 'Aldi confirms it will be closing all UK stores for three days.'
Aldi confirms it will be closing all UK stores for three days https://t.co/iqtjRCR4RJ
— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) September 11, 2025
Unlike permanent Aldi store closures, such as the Tooting branch in September 2025 due to lease expiry, these are nationwide but short-lived. Aldi operates over 1,050 sites, planning expansion to 1,500, with recent upgrades to 23 stores including two in Greater Manchester. Shoppers face no long-term loss, but the timing aligns with heightened Christmas shopping demands.
Timeline: Exact Dates for 2025 Aldi Store Closures
Stores will halt operations from 25 December 2025 to 26 December 2025, resuming on 27 December 2025 at standard hours, typically 8:00am to 8:00pm weekdays. The New Year's closure follows on 1 January 2026, with doors reopening 2 January 2026, mirroring last year's pattern but confirmed early for planning. Aldi will extend pre-Christmas hours, some to 10pm, to aid stocking up on essentials like turkeys and treats.
This schedule affects all England, Scotland and Wales locations, sparing no branch from the brief pause. While isolated permanent closures, like Llanelli's Swanfield Place on 27 April 2025, continue sporadically, the festive news dominates headlines. Customers in rural areas may travel further temporarily, but Aldi's app and store finder help locate alternatives.
Shoppers: Plan for Temporary Closures
The three-day gap means no Aldi access for post-Christmas restocks, pushing families to rivals like Tesco or Lidl on Boxing Day. Budget-conscious households, reliant on Aldi's low prices—saving shoppers £1,000 ($1,534) yearly versus big four grocers, must plan ahead to avoid festive overspends.
Heley added, 'We know how hard colleagues work to deliver an amazing Christmas for our customers, and this is one small way of saying thank you.'
Extended December hours mitigate rushes, but last-minute Boxing Day needs, like forgotten gifts, could inflate costs elsewhere. Staff benefit from the break, with recent pay rises to £13.02 ($19.96) hourly nationally, boosting morale. Overall, the announcement fosters goodwill, though it underscores retail's balancing act between service and sustainability in 2025.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
