Aldi to open 80 stores in the U.S. this year

Aldi says it will open 80 stores this year, which will give the German company more than 1,200 stores in the United States. (By comparison, Save-A-Lots' goal is 2,400 stores by 2015.) The typical Aldi store is between 11,000 and 17,000 square feet, and that shouldn't change much in the near future. 

However, they do have some new tricks up their sleeve.

Although the company has typically bought property and built freestanding stores, GlobeSt.com reports that Vice President Mike Jessen says they are now looking at leasing facilities in strip malls or enclosed malls as well. In addition, Jessen says Aldi wants to move beyond its traditional demographic by opening locations in affluent areas and food deserts.