ALDI Finally Launches Grocery Delivery – But There’s a Catch

For years, Aussie shoppers have asked (OK, begged) for it. And now, finally, ALDI has delivered – literally. In a major shake-up to its famously frills-free model, Aldi has partnered with DoorDash to launch home grocery delivery. Cue the celebratory toots of a checkout scanner!

But hold up – before you start planning your couch-based shopping sprees, there’s a catch (of course there is).

Ding Dong! ALDI’s at the Door (Sort Of)

From today, Aldi has teamed up with DoorDash to trial same-day grocery delivery, and Canberra is the lucky chosen one. Canberrans can jump on the DoorDash app or DoorDash website and have over 1,800 Aldi goodies delivered right to their doorstep. We’re talking meat, milk, snacks, cleaning products—the essentials that somehow end up costing $160 even though you “just popped in for bread.”

So if you’re living in the ACT, congratulations. You’ve officially levelled up your lazy grocery game.

The One Big Exclusion: Special Buys

Yes, the middle aisle magic that is Special Buys isn’t included in the delivery trial. That cult-favourite camping gear, random massage chairs, sewing machines, electric scooters and pet ponchos? Still only available in-store, folks.

ALDI says they’re sticking to basics for now, keeping delivery focused on essentials. While it makes sense logistically, it might take a little shine off the excitement for shoppers hoping to impulse-buy a drone with their dishwashing tablets.

Why Now?

So why the change of heart after all these years? According to ALDI Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer Jordan Lack, it’s about meeting customer demand.

Basically, they’ve heard the feedback loud and clear – and they’re finally doing something about it.

“We’re thrilled to be kicking off this trial with DoorDash and offering more Aussies access to our award-winning grocery range, without having to leave home,”

But Don’t Get Too Excited Just Yet…

If you’re not in Canberra, you’ll have to wait. The trial is starting small to “test and learn”, with ALDI keeping a close eye on how it performs before deciding whether to roll it out nationwide.

So yes, delivery is technically here – but for most Aussies, it’s still a watch-this-space situation.

Enter: DoorDash

On the delivery side of things, DoorDash is handling all the logistics. Their VP for APAC, Simon Rossi, called the partnership an “exciting step forward” and says it’ll help redefine what convenience looks like for Aussie grocery shoppers.

For ALDI, it’s a smart play. Instead of investing in their own costly delivery infrastructure (which has long been the reason they’ve avoided online orders), they’re piggybacking off DoorDash’s already established system.

Simply download the DoorDash app or order at www.doordash.com.au and search for ‘ALDI’ on the platform.

The Bigger Picture: ALDI Australia vs. The Big Guys

With this move, ALDI is stepping further into the digital grocery war, taking on Coles and Woolies who’ve offered delivery services for years (plus all the bells and whistles like subscriptions, app specials and delivery windows down to the hour).

ALDI’s approach will likely still be the more budget-friendly option, but it’ll be interesting to see whether their famously low prices will hold once DoorDash delivery fees are added in.

What This Means for Shoppers

If you’re in Canberra, you’re the lucky test case. You can now skip the queues and the carpark shuffle and have your ALDI groceries delivered same-day.

For everyone else? It’s a promising sign that more flexibility and convenience could be on the way. It also shows ALDI’s willingness to adapt – something that may just win over even more loyal fans.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s still a long way to go before ALDI delivery becomes the norm across Australia. Until then, it’s business as usual for most of us – navigating the middle aisle temptations in person.

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