• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, August 10, 2022

Think there’s no romance in discount canned goods? Aldi begs to differ. The grocery store is offering a lucky couple the chance to tie the knot in its headquarters store, with an Aldi employee performing the ceremony.

Aldi USA, based in Batavia, Illinois, says the idea stems from its shoppers. “Fans are constantly showing us their Aldi love in big and small ways, whether it’s sharing their favorite products in social media groups or celebrating cherished life moments, like marriage proposals and engagement photos,” says Kate Kirkpatrick, director of communications. ”We felt it was due time to show our love to them in return with the Aldi wedding of their dreams.”

Couples can enter the contest in Aldi stores through Aug. 17.

The winning pair will get hitched at the Aldi Insight Center, its model store at the Batavia, Illinois, headquarters, transformed just for the occasion.

The prize includes travel for the couple and a reception for 50 of their friends and family. Refreshments will consist of a branded tiered wedding cake baked with Baker’s Corner ingredients, cocktails and appetizers, including the grocer's "beloved" mini Red Bag Chicken sliders. A photoshoot in front of the store is part of the package, as are Aldi wedding favors. And as a final gift, the couple gets a year’s worth of groceries, with $5,000 in Aldi gift cards.

In an email to Marketing Daily, Kirkpatrick says Aldi is marketing the contest through its website, fan groups, social media and PR efforts.

“Hundreds of couples have entered so far,” she says. “When it comes to judging, the ALDI team will read through all the amazing ALDI love stories and determine the winning couple.”

Aldi is based in Germany. The U.S. division has more than 2,200 stores in 38 states, putting it on track to become the third largest grocer in the U.S. (by store count) at the end of this year.