Aldi is recruiting more than 600 workers for its automated distribution centre in Bardon, Leicestershire, as it builds capacity for grocery deliveries across the UK.

The recruitment drive was reported by UK trade publications on 15 and 16 October 2026. The vacancies cover warehouse operations, picking and transport, with different start dates as the site continues to expand. Aldi’s own recruitment website lists Bardon vacancies, including night-shift transport and warehouse assistant roles.

The 1.3 million sq ft facility opened in May 2026 following investment of more than £500 million. It is Aldi’s first automated distribution centre in the UK and is intended to become a national replenishment hub alongside the retailer’s existing warehouse network.

The new recruitment campaign is distinct from the opening itself. Aldi announced in May that the site would employ around 1,000 people when fully operational. The more recent campaign concerns over 600 positions as operations are phased in; the figures should not be added together as though they were separate completed job totals.

For grocery suppliers, the important development is the gradual expansion of distribution capacity. Aldi expects Bardon ultimately to serve nearly 350 stores and move almost seven million pallets of goods annually. These are future capacity figures, not current throughput.

Fresh produce operations began in September. Aldi said that at peak capacity more than 1.5 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables could pass through Bardon each day, supported by automated handling technology from Cimcorp.

Managing those volumes requires more than machinery. Staff are needed to operate equipment, manage inbound deliveries, prepare store orders and coordinate transport. The recruitment therefore illustrates the combination of automation and human labour involved in a large modern grocery distribution centre.

Aldi is advertising warehouse transport assistant roles with pay between £13.31 and £16.64 per hour, depending on shift arrangements. These published rates apply to the specified vacancies and should not be treated as a universal salary for all 600 jobs.

The company says it is working with local colleges and employment organisations to support recruitment and training across Leicestershire. Its expansion could create opportunities for people entering logistics as well as those with previous distribution experience.

The effects for manufacturers and produce growers will depend on how quickly Bardon reaches planned operating levels. Greater warehouse capacity may help the retailer manage rising volumes and deliveries to stores, but Aldi has not published evidence that the recruitment drive has already reduced supplier lead times or costs.

GTN previously covered Aldi’s opening of its Bardon warehouse. This follow-up focuses specifically on the newly reported hiring campaign and the next stage of the site’s operations.

The next steps are the arrival and training of recruits and the further scaling of warehouse and fresh-food handling activities through 2027.

Editor’s note: Aldi’s official press releases of 28 May and 23 September 2026 confirm the site’s investment, capacity and fresh-produce operations. The 600-job recruitment development was reported on 15 October and subsequently on 16 October; a separate 16 October Aldi press-office announcement was not located. Specific vacancy details were checked against Aldi’s official recruitment listings. The featured photograph shows the Bardon site.