Biggest changes coming in Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and Morrisons before July

Major supermarkets have told the Daily Express about the biggest changes coming in the next few months. The Express reached out to all of the major supermarkets in the UK, with four coming back to us with updates happening in the coming months. Supermarkets are always changing the way they do things in a bid to improve the experiences of customers, value for money for shoppers and choice.

Aldi, Co-op, Lidl and Waitrose told the Daily Express about the biggest changes shoppers can expect in the coming months, all of which are set to happen before July. Meanwhile, Morrisons has recently announced a major change to its car parks. There are several factors shoppers consider when choosing their favourite supermarket. Value for money is perhaps the most important factor, but customers are also influenced by choice, quality of food, and the actual experience of shopping in stores. Here are the major changes coming in the next few months in Aldi, Lidl, Morissons and Waitrose.

Aldi is rolling out major revamps of some of its UK stores. The budget chain is set to invest over £300 million in upgrading and extending existing UK stores in 2026, as part of its “continued commitment to investing in Britain“.

Stores set to receive an extension in the coming months include:

• Beck Road, Huddersfield
• Glamorgan Vale RP, Llantrisant
• Bebington Road, Bebington
• Springbank Road, Stirling
• Smithdown Road, Liverpool
• Brooks Road, Lewes

Other stores across the UK will also benefit from upgrades this year, including locations in Chester-le-Street (County Durham), Handsworth Road (Sheffield), Haverhill (Suffolk), Tybridge Street (Worcester) and Chorley (Lancashire).

Lidl has also announced a major investment in its stores across the UK. The budget chain has announced a £43 million in refurbishing more than 70 of our existing stores. The upgrades include faster tills and larger freezers to expand our range, ensuring customers enjoy the same high standards wherever they shop.

Additionally, Lidl recently opened a slew of new stores. As well as the 19 new stores at the beginning of the year, Lidl opened five new stores in 24 hours on February 19. New stores opened in Sutton High Street, London, Salisbury, Walworth Road, London, Reading and Basildon, creating around 160 new jobs.

Co-op has recently unveiled its new flexi-checkouts, which will be rolled out across the UK. These will feature dual screens that can be operated by cashiers or used as self-service tills, which the supermarket hopes will enhance customer choice and convenience by ensuring all till points are ‘open all hours’.

The bespoke new technology is being rolled out to 150 of its stores by April, Co-op revealed. The easy-to-use digital screens clearly show customers their price savings, deals and promotions, including the benefits of membership. The new checkouts also retain the traditional cashier service functionality for kiosk-only purchases or for shoppers who prefer to be served by a staff member.

Waitrose has gained quite a reputation for its stand-out seasonal food, and the supermarket always delivers when it comes to Christmas, Easter and summer treats.

Announcing the suspension of mackerel sourcing due to sustainability concerns, the high-end supermarket stated that Waitrose will launch a new range of smoked fish in April to offer customers tasty alternatives. It will also introduce frozen sardines in May as a certified sustainable replacement for frozen mackerel, offering similar rich flavour and nutritional benefits.

• Waitrose Scottish Hot Smoked Herring, MSC certified
• Waitrose Scottish Hot Smoked Peppered Herring, MSC certified
• Waitrose Hot Smoked Sweetcure Seabass, supermarket first, ASC certified
• Waitrose Hot Smoked Trout with Dill & Lemon, RSPCA assured
• Waitrose Frozen Sardine Fillets, MSC certified

Morrisons recently announced a major change coming to its car parks in 2026. The supermarket, which has hundreds of superstores across the country. The supermarket has partnered with Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to reward drivers of electric vehicles, offering them extra Morrisons More points when they charge their EVs at one of its car parks. The new change came into effect over this past weekend, with EV drivers earning 5 More Points for every £1 spent, redeemable at any Morrisons supermarket.

Matt McLellan, Group Customer, Marketing and Data Director at Morrisons, said: “We are always looking for new ways to give our customers more value through the Morrisons More programme, and this partnership with MFG does exactly that.

“Rewarding customers with 5 Morrisons More Points for every £1 spent charging at all MFG EV Power bays across the UK means they can earn valuable points on the road and enjoy savings when they shop with us in store.”