Why Aldi's In-Store Bakeries Didn't Take Off In The US - Tasting Table

"where one commenter, who claimed to have worked in an Aldi with a bakery, shared, "The initial novelty was great; people would go crazy over the cheese and chocolate twists. But ... COVID really did a number on sales." According to the thread, some stores were forced to throw out products at the end of each day, which was costly for the grocer."

"Don't hold your breath if you live in the U.S. and you're hoping that Aldi will add a bakery to the store near you. The discount supermarket chain tested adding bakeries to a handful of stores in 2018, but they didn't last long. There is not much information about what happened to the Aldi bakeries or why the German grocery chain decided not to keep them. No official statement has been made, nor is there any mention of bakeries on Aldi's website."

Aldi introduced in-store bakeries at several U.S. locations in 2018 but later discontinued them without issuing an official statement. Information about the closures comes largely from ex-employee reports and online message boards such as Reddit. One former worker reported strong initial sales that fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing daily product waste and increased costs. Specific bakery closures occurred in multiple Illinois locations and Elkridge, Maryland. U.S. Aldi stores continue to sell baked goods through house brands like L'oven Fresh, Specially Selected, and Bake Shop, with Specially Selected offering hundreds of products.

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