Aldi U.S. announced that Jason Hart, Aldi U.S. chief executive officer, has been promoted to join the executive board of Aldi South as group chief operating officer. Hart will help oversee the company's global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective Sept. 1. Atty McGrath, currently chief operating officer, will assume the Aldi U.S. chief executive role.

During his 10-year leadership as Aldi U.S. CEO, Hart has led the expansion and development of the Aldi brand, overseeing the store count nearly double from 1,300 in 32 states to 2,500 across 39 states.

"I am honored to take on this new role with Aldi supporting our global business," says Hart. "The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we've achieved together in the U.S. is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success."

McGrath has spent her entire 20-year career with Aldi, holding a variety of positions ranging from district manager, director of operations, division vice president and most recently, chief operating officer.

"On behalf of the entire Aldi U.S. team, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jason for his unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership," says McGrath. "I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers."

As part of its growth strategy, Aldi U.S. plans to open 800 new stores over the next five years, with a target of more than 225 locations opening in 2025 alone, a record for the retailer. Already this year, Aldi U.S. has opened 55 stores with 75 more locations set to open this summer in key growth markets such as Arizona, California, Florida, and South Carolina,as well as established markets like the Midwest and Northeast.

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