Aldi is to open the doors of its second Canterbury supermarket for the first time in a matter of weeks.

The German retailer is getting set to launch its new Sturry Road store in early October - bringing with it the creation of 50 new jobs.

The budget supermarket is taking up residence alongside the city’s existing B&Q, which has been downsized and split into three separate units.

Workers have been on-site redesigning and kitting out the building ahead of the autumn opening, for which a specific date has not yet been announced.

The food store will be one of three retailers at the Sturry Road site, alongside a scaled-down B&Q and a yet-to-be revealed coffee chain,

Aldi has been looking to expand its Kent presence for a number of years, with numerous stores opening - and others being planned - in all areas of the county.

The launch of the new Sturry Road store looked set to spell the end for the chain’s current base in Rheims Way, which was put on the market earlier this year.

A sales brochure stated the site would become “available following the opening of Aldi’s new store in Sturry Road”, but the listing was soon taken offline.

Now, the supermarket firm says it will continue to trade from the Rheims Way store - meaning Canterbury will have two Aldis within 1.3 miles of each other.

A company spokesperson said: ‘We are proud to be expanding our award-winning offer in Canterbury by opening a second store in the north of the city.

“The store will open in early October and will bring up to 50 new jobs to the community.”

When open, Aldi will be just a stone’s throw from Lidl and Asda.

Last year, retail analysts predicted that, by 2025, 15% of Lidl’s annual turnover would be diverted to Aldi, and 27% of Asda’s income swallowed up.

It is not yet known when the coffee shop will open as the site still awaits a tenant.

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