ALDI is everywhere else in the UK - except Northern Ireland. I don't know why - I've never managed to get a straight answer off them. In fact, they are opening new stores all the time - but not one in Ulster. The Irish Republic have them - but, as the nearest store is over 100 miles away, plus they use the euro and don't accept our credit/debit cards, you have to go to a cashpoint and withdraw what you think you'll need (not always easy to predict!) True, we have branches of LIDL - but then so has everyone else. The cost of living always has been higher in Northern Ireland, and, as a result of the latest budget, anyone earning the median wage of £24,000 will find themselves around £600 worse off when the hikes in fuel, food, energy and transport are taken into account, according to recent newspaper figures. So it continues to get worse - so if there is one country in need of another budget supermarket it's here. Hope others will agree/support me in this. It cuts both ways - ALDI could do very well here. What are they afraid of?