German discounter Aldi is experimenting with a flashier store fitout as it prepares to expand beyond Australia's eastern states.
Aldi has revamped four stores in the past six months and will reopen another four, including one at Manly in Sydney on Wednesday, as part of new layout trial.
Brighter, more contemporary interiors with clearer category signage, better access to fresh produce and reduced checkout wait times are key features Aldi is keen to rollout in South Australia.
"We're excited to be bringing elements of these trials to shoppers in South Australia with our expansion from early 2016," a company spokesperson said.
Aldi will open up to 50 new stores across SA in coming years, with 20 planned by the end of 2016, along with another 20 in Western Australia.
At this stage there are no plans to roll out the new format stores nationally.
"As part of the trial process, we will review these upgrades and continue to listen to feedback before determining what could be broadly implemented to make the Aldi shopping experience even more enjoyable for our customers," the spokeswoman said.
The new look will not lead to higher prices and the supermarket chain will always remain a limited discount retailer, she said.
Fewer product options in each category has been a hallmark of Aldi's successful model.
The company has 382 stores across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, and a share of about 10 per cent of the eastern seaboard's supermarket sector.
