Aldi to launch online as full-year profits hit a record

Aldi has fired another salvo in the supermarket price war as it announced that it will launch online from early next year.

Initially the German discounter will offer cases of wine for online shoppers before extending the service to non-food special bargains.

Aldi had previously said it would be difficult to maintain low prices given the cost of delivering to shoppers’ homes.

The retailer also reported record profits for the last year, in which it overtook Waitrose to become the UK’s sixth biggest grocer.

Sales leapt by 31% to £6.9 billion – the equivalent of £31 million extra sales every week.