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Macduff Aldi ‘might never be built’ as Tesco launches legal action to waylay discount rival

Tesco is taking legal action to stop the new Macduff Aldi ever opening
Tesco is taking Aberdeenshire Council to court after the authority approved plans for a new Aldi in Macduff. Image: Roddie Reid/DC Thomson

Tesco is taking legal action to stop a highly-anticipated new Aldi ever being built in Macduff.

Aberdeenshire Council approved plans for the bargain store on Duff Street last summer after being inundated with messages of support from locals.

Aldi bosses had hoped to complete the £3.3 million project to get it up and running by the end of this year.

But Tesco has now served the local authority with a judicial review – challenging the decision to approve their discount rival’s plans.

That means a judge at the Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court, will pore over the rationale for approval before deciding if it should stand.

If the judge finds in Tesco’s favour, then the permission could be deemed void and the popular plans scuppered.

Artist impression of the Aldi in Macduff, which could now never become reality.

Aldi ‘extremely disappointed’ at Tesco intervention in Macduff

While the action is not being taken against Aldi, it has still caused the German retailer a major headache.

A spokesman told us the scheme is now “at risk”, and will be “considerably delayed” even if the verdict goes its way.

He confirmed that the shop, expected to create 35 jobs, will “no longer open this year as had been planned”.

The spokesman said: “It is extremely disappointing that we will not be able to open our new store in Macduff later this year as we had hoped.

“From the outset, we have been overwhelmed with the significant level of support for the proposals.

“We know that right now times are hard for so many people, and we will continue to do all we can to try and deliver the store.”

There had been some hopes that the Aldi might be under construction by now. Image: Aldi

Why do locals want an Aldi so much?

Residents in Macduff and neighbouring Banff have long complained about the lack of supermarkets to serve the combined population.

And hundreds of people took part in a public consultation on the Aldi plans in the summer of 2021.

Aldi bosses said they were bowled over by the “unprecedented level of support”, with 708 backing the idea – a staggering 98.3% of all respondents.

We have covered every step of the saga… Image: Chris Donnan/DC Thomson

In July 2022, Aberdeenshire Council approved the plans having been bombarded with messages of support from residents.

Shoppers said they were desperate for “greater choice and value” in the area.

Some even said they have to make round trips of “40 and 50 miles” to pick up groceries.

Aldi was recently named Which? Cheapest Supermarket in 2022, for the second year running, at a time when many are favouring discount chains.

And details of the legal drama emerged as Aberdeenshire Council approved plans for a Farmfoods in Inverurie to help families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Is Tesco the only retail giant to oppose Macduff Aldi?

The legal action comes after both Morrisons and the Co-op previously battled to block the Aldi plans.

Morrisons appeared to warn Aberdeenshire Council that it would be less inclined to pursue plans for a supermarket at Canal Park in Banff should the nearby Aldi get the go-ahead.

Our map shows the distance between the Banff Morrisons and Macduff Aldi. Supplied by Roddie Reid/DC Thomson

The Banff Co-op also urged the authority to reject the plans.

Its North Planning and Development director, Graeme Laing, argued that it would “cause significant harm” to local traders.

He said the Co-op and Tesco in Banff town centre would both suffer greatly.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman last night said bosses are “awaiting the outcome of the judicial review process”.

“In the interim we continue to engage with Aldi as the applicant for the store,” he added.


Do you think the judge should throw out Tesco’s petition? Let us know in our comments section below


Tesco was approached for comment.

The decision will lie with Scotland’s supreme civil court. Image: Shutterstock

Has this happened elsewhere?

The Macduff case is not an isolated one.

The Grocer reports that about 40 proposed Aldi stores are being held up due to objections or judicial reviews from rival supermarkets.

They say it comes as “Aldi and Lidl continue to take customers from rivals in droves in the cost-of-living crisis”.

In Essex, a planned Aldi has been stuck in limbo for three years after becoming entangled in red tape.

But Tesco and Asda say they only ever object to rival stores based on material planning considerations such as impact on the environment.

They claim it’s not because they fear any impact on their own profits.

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