ome traditions don’t change easily. But Aldi’s infamous middle aisle — home to snow gear in summer and power drills next to pastries — might be next. With a few cautious steps, it’s testing the waters of home delivery.
A Quiet Shift in Aldi’s Retail Model
From January 7, Aldi customers in Victoria can order a limited selection of Special Buys via DoorDash. The service will expand to the rest of Australia on January 21, but for now, it’s a trial — and a telling one. Aldi has always been somewhat resistant to online delivery in Australia. It built its model around in-store efficiency, minimal staffing, and a “what you see is what you get” kind of rhythm. But in a post-pandemic world, even Aldi is tweaking the rules.
“The thrill of discovering something special in the middle aisle is a big part of what makes Aldi shoppers love visiting stores on Wednesday and Saturday mornings,” said Group Director Simon Padovani-Ginies to Yahoo Lifestyle, calling the move a “game changer.” It might be small-scale, but symbolically, it’s significant.
What Shoppers Can Expect
Only selected Special Buys will be available on the app, and pre-orders are not allowed. Just like in-store, these items will appear Wednesdays and Saturdays, and quantities are limited. Heavy or bulky items — anything requiring two people to lift — are excluded, at least for now. And prices? They stay the same as in-store. In short, this isn’t a revolution. It’s an experiment. And Aldi is watching closely.
Back-to-School Specials Lead the Rollout
To kick things off, Aldi is offering more than 60 back-to-school products through DoorDash. Think joggers for $10.99, school shoes for $24.99, and plenty of classroom basics under $2. In total, families can reportedly kit out a student for under $40. That’s likely to attract attention in a cost-of-living crunch — especially among parents who’d rather avoid the weekend crowds.
Aldi, DoorDash, and a Changing Market
This is not Aldi turning into an online giant overnight. But it is the chain acknowledging that shopping habits have shifted — and that third-party delivery has become part of the normal supermarket conversation. DoorDash already delivers everyday groceries for Aldi in some regions. But extending that to Special Buys — the very thing that drives so much traffic — marks a new phase in how Aldi thinks about digital convenience.
Whether it stays, scales, or quietly fades will depend on how Australians respond. But for now, the middle aisle has entered the app — and it’s not just a gimmick. It’s a test of what comes next.
