Aldi colleague Maria celebrates 35 years' service

An Aldi colleague in Oldham is celebrating 35 years of working for the supermarket after joining in 1990.

Store Assistant Maria Holder shares her anniversary with the supermarket, having first joined Aldi just a few months after it opened its first UK store, making the event extra special.

Maria joined Aldi when the Hyde Store first opened its doors, working at multiple other stores in the area including in Oldham and Rochdale, before joining the Chadderton Team in 2023.

She has gone above and beyond during her time at the supermarket, not only through her dedication to customers but also raising more than £1,000 for the supermarket’s dedicated charity Teenage Cancer Trust by planning a party for fellow colleagues in 2022.

Speaking about her long service, Maria said: “I have absolutely loved my time at Aldi and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.

"It’s been such a pleasure to work alongside brilliant teams over the past 35 years, and I’m so proud to be one of the supermarket’s longest-serving colleagues.

“I’d definitely say it’s the people that make Aldi what it is.

"Many of the colleagues and customers I’ve met over the past three decades have become my close friends – even coming to my wedding – and it’s really rewarding to be part of a team that’s so customer focused.”

When asked how things have changed from 1990 to now, Maria added: “Over the past 35 years, I’m lucky to have been part of Aldi’s transformation into one of the UK’s top supermarkets.

"The range of quality products on offer has increased hugely and there’s been so many changes to the way we work in that time.

“Back then, we had to learn and memorise more than 500 prices and codes.

"I really enjoyed it and found it became somewhat of a daily brain exercise.”

When it comes to one product Maria would bring back from her first year in store, she said: “It has got to be the frozen lamb grill steaks.

"My mum always used to buy them, they were absolutely delicious – and not to mention great value for money.”

Laura Domone, Regional Managing Director at Aldi UK, said: “Without the hard work and dedication of our store colleagues we wouldn’t be able to provide customers with the excellent service and value we’ve become known for.

"Colleagues like Maria are the cornerstone of our business, and we thank her for the continued dedication she has shown throughout the last 35 years.

“We look forward to celebrating Maria’s 35th anniversary along with Aldi’s, and to working with her for many more years to come.”

Aldi opened its first UK store in 1990 and now has more than 1,050 stores across the UK, employing more than 45,000 people.

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