Supermarket giant Aldi has revealed it wants to open new stores in Exmouth and Exmouth.

The firm is seeking sites for outlets in East Devon’s biggest town and the city after announcing a record £800million investment programme.

Aldi says this is its ‘largest-ever package of annual investment to accelerate its expansion across Britain’s towns and cities’.

The retailer’s annual trading update states how it plans to open 23 new locations before the end of the year.

Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores and previously announced plans to scale to 1,500 outlets across the UK.

The firm has confirmed Devon is among the areas it is focusing on – and it is specifically ‘currently looking for sites’ in Exmouth and Exeter as well as in Plymouth.

Bristol, Penzance and Ivybridge are listed as other ‘sites required’ in the South West.

It stipulates that it is searching for ‘freehold town-centre, edge-of-centre, and retail park sites suitable for property development’.

“The sites should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access,” says the supermarket heavyweight.

Richard Thornton, communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are committed to bringing high quality, affordable groceries to millions more British families.

“With more than 1,000 stores across the country, our footprint is definitely growing, but we know there are still a number of towns that either don’t have an Aldi or have shown demand for more stores.”