Budget supermarket chain Aldi has taken a step closer to confirming it will be opening a Deal store.

It comes after the Mercury revealed before Christmas that pre-planning discussions had taken place with the district council which involved building a supermarket at Albert Road.

A response from an Aldi press spokesman hinted that the chain was more confident of opening up in Deal.

He said: “Aldi is considering numerous locations across the South East.

“Deal is one such location, and we are actively seeking a site in the hope of bringing an Aldi store to the area and creating jobs for the surrounding communities.”

“We look forward to bringing retail choice to Deal and providing shoppers with high quality products at everyday low prices.”

It is more than the German firm has ever said before.

In previous comments, it only confirmed they are looking for a site in Deal.

On Thursday, December 18, we reported that pre-planning discussions confirmed that a relief road could be built at the Albert Road site, easing existing congestion and making way for a development of 160 homes, a supermarket, retail space and children’s nursery.

The discovery is what prompted Aldi’s positive response but it followed a year of tight-lipped comments after the firm advertised for management positions in Deal in the autumn 2013.

For follow-ups, see future editions of the Mercury.