Aldi to open store in Republic in June

Grocery store chain Aldi will open a store in Republic on June 15.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the store at 1434 U.S. 60 at 8:25 a.m. that day, according to a company news release, and the first 100 shoppers will receive a "golden ticket" with gift cards of various amounts. Customers will also be able to sample products and enter to win a year's supply of Aldi produce.

The Republic location will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

“Our high-quality products and everyday low prices make for a combination our competitors just can’t match,” Mark Bersted, Olathe division vice president for Aldi, said in the release. “Our stores are simple to navigate, so it’s easy for shoppers to get in, get what they need and continue on with their day knowing they left with a shopping cart full of groceries that fit their lifestyle and save them money.”

Aldi specializes in staple items and generally features only one or two brands for a given item; many of the brands are exclusive to the chain. The company says the Republic store will feature a "new look" and that customers will "notice a focus on fresh items, including more robust produce, dairy and bakery sections and more room for customers’ favorite products."

"ALDI saves customers money by cutting overhead costs through smart practices, such as an innovative cart system: ALDI shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart from the corral and receive the quarter back upon the cart’s return," the release reads. "Other cost-saving practices include a smaller store footprint, open carton displays and encouraging customers to bring their own shopping bags."

Aldi, which is based in Germany, has more than 1,600 stores in the U.S., across 35 states. In southwest Missouri, the chain currently has two stores in Springfield, along with one location each in Nixa, Bolivar, Lebanon, Carthage and Joplin.