A national supermarket chain has announced plans to open up to 15 stores across the county.

Aldi has its sights set on a number of Kent towns, some of which already host one of its 880 branches nationwide.

Among the brand's targeted locations are Ebbsfleet, Folkestone and Tenterden, while towns including Ashford, Canterbury, Dover and Tunbridge Wells could have an extra store introduced despite having an existing store.

With an aim of having 1,200 shops open by 2025, a recent expansion programme has been underway - one which Kent has already featured heavily in.

Last week a new outlet opened in Chatham's Horsted Retail Park, and earlier this month Canterbury City Council approved plans for an Aldi to occupy half of the Sturry Road B&Q site.

The German discount chain snapped up a prime site in Canterbury Road in Ashford in December, following its popular entry into the town in August 2018.

In November, a long-awaited Aldi opened in Deal.

The full list of locations it is targeting in Kent, which may include some of the aforementioned sites, are:

• Ashford

• Bearsted
• Broadstairs
• Canterbury
• Chatham
• Cranbrook

• Dover
• Ebbsfleet
• Folkestone
• Kings Hill
• Paddock Wood
• Redhill
• Royal Tunbridge Wells

• Snodland
• Tenterden

In particular, the company is looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for development.

It says each site should be around 1.5 acres and able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access.

Ciaran Aldridge, National Property Director at Aldi UK, said: “Aldi is growing rapidly and we are welcoming around a million new customers into our stores every year.

“But there are also hundreds of towns across the UK where there is not an Aldi, meaning there are hundreds of thousands of people who can’t easily access the high quality, affordable food our customers love.

“We are willing to explore all opportunities, including developer-led schemes or existing retail units.”

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