ALDI celebrates 25 years in business in Mayo county town
To celebrate 25 years in Ireland, ALDI is highlighting the stories of dedicated colleagues who have been with the company since those early years.
In this interview, Emily Devanney, Miriam Kelly and Leona Callaghan, who have all worked in the ALDI store in Castlebar for over 20 years, tell us a bit about themselves, their experiences with ALDI, and how the company has evolved since they started working there.
Emily, Leona, Miriam (pictured) of the ALDI Castlebar store each mark over 20 years with the company, as ALDI celebrates its 25 years in Ireland.
Q. What’s the best thing about your job?
Emily: The best thing about my job is the feeling of family that comes from working with so many long-serving staff.
Miriam: I also think all the people I get to meet, both staff and customers, are the best thing about working for ALDI.
Leona: I would say the best thing about my job is always trying to improve on service and customer satisfaction.
Q. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen at work in the last 20 years?
Emily: The focus on customer service. We’ve transitioned from a quick-service approach to one that prioritises being attentive and understanding of our customers' needs. I get so many compliments from customers about how friendly and helpful our staff are, making it rewarding to work at ALDI
Miriam: The huge increase in the number of products we now offer.
Leona: When I started there were very few products and nearly all products were displayed on pallets and in boxes. In Castlebar, we started in a small premises and moved into a lovely new build in 2006 which now offers many products and a lovely in-store experience.
Q. What is your favourite ALDI product?
Emily: That would change depending on the seasons. I enjoy the Prosecco and I also love the great quality fruit and veg. My current favourite item is the Clotted Cream Ice Cream.
Leona: Some of my favourite products are the make-up, moisturisers and my trusted air fryer!
Q. Have you worked at other ALDI locations before?
Miriam: I am originally from Mexico and started working in ALDI Castlebar in 2003. Although I’ve always been based in the Castlebar store I, like Emily and Leona, have helped out in other stores on many occasions over the years.
What’s the funniest/most interesting thing you’ve seen at work in the last 20 years?
Emily: I’ve seen too many funny things to single out just one! I laugh at work every day. A day without a laugh would be a long day.
Leona: The most interesting thing was to see our shop closing for a week and being transformed by Project Fresh.
There are lots of funny stories between our team but one of the funniest is going to work at 6 a.m. and finding a customer sitting on his camp chair at the door waiting to get a garden chair from our Specialbuy launch.
Q. How have you benefited from working with ALDI?
Emily: I have made so many friends, both customers and staff. There are few things more important in life than good friends.
Leona: I have benefited by becoming a Deputy Store Manager and I have also made great friends through working with a super team.
Miriam: Working in ALDI has been great for my work-life balance as it has allowed me to work locally and spend more time with my family.
Q. What are some frequently asked questions you receive from customers about ALDI?
Emily: A common question customers ask is about our Specialbuys, and if they can find different Specialbuys by visiting other ALDI stores.
The simple answer to this is ‘no.’ ALDI’s Specialbuys are released every Thursday and Sunday and are available in all ALDI stores.
Miriam: Some customers notice us stocking shelves throughout the day and ask why we don’t do this when the store is closed. To help things run smoothly, all colleagues are trained to help in roles across the store, from moving stock to scanning groceries. This ensures that shoppers can always find their favourite everyday essentials in store.
Leona: Customers will often say that our Castlebar store reminds them of another ALDI store in Mayo or otherwise.
There is a reason for this. The stores have been specifically designed to feature a smaller store layout than traditional full price supermarkets.
Each ALDI store having the same consistent layout means shoppers can always find what their looking for, such as the familiar Super 6 promotional section at the entrance.