That is due to a variety of factors – primarily their preference to expand organically by opening new-build stores to their exact specifications, but also due to a paucity of suitable businesses to acquire. It’s not that often that other discount chains are up for sale.

There have been a few notable exceptions over the years, such as Aldi Sud’s acquisition of Hofer in Austria, Aldi Nord’s purchase of Trader Joe’s in the USA and Lidl buying a supermarket business in America to accelerate its entry into that market.

Other players such as Plus, Dia and Netto have been involved in assorted deals around Europe in the mists of time, but significant swoops such as Aldi Nord’s apparently impending acquisition of Leader Price in France are far and few between.