ome traditions don\u2019t change easily. But Aldi\u2019s infamous middle aisle \u2014 home to snow gear in summer and power drills next to pastries \u2014 might be next. With a few cautious steps, it\u2019s testing the waters of home delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s a trial \u2014 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 \u201cwhat you see is what you get<\/em>\u201d kind of rhythm. But in a post-pandemic world, even Aldi is tweaking the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe 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,<\/em>\u201d said Group Director Simon Padovani-Ginies to Yahoo Lifestyle<\/a>, calling the move a \u201cgame changer.\u201d It might be small-scale, but symbolically, it\u2019s significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2014 anything requiring two people to lift \u2014 are excluded, at least for now. And prices? They stay the same as in-store. In short, this isn\u2019t a revolution. It\u2019s an experiment. And Aldi is watching closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Shoppers Can Expect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n