SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has its sights set on south Essex as part of its bid to double its number of stores in the next eight years.

The discount retailer announced it aims to have 1,000 stores nationwide by 2022 – between 60 and 65 opening next year.

Aldi said it is looking for sites in Billericay, Canvey, Basildon, Leigh, Rayleigh, Southend and Stanford-le-Hope.

The ambitious plans will see 35,000 jobs created nationwide.

Trevor Draper, of Billericay Chamber of Commerce, said: “In terms of Billericay it would depend on where it decided it wanted to put the store.

“Having a store in the High Street, opposite Waitrose, could be a good thing for the people of Billericay as it would give Waitrose a run for its money.”

Details of Aldi’s unprecedented expansion were announced during a visit by David Cameron to Aldi’s UK headquarters in Warwickshire.

The retailer has opened two stores in south Essex in the past year in Benfleet and Pitsea.

Castle Point mayor, councillor Jackie Govier, opened the Benfleet store at Tarpots.

She said: “When I opened the store there was definitely an atmosphere of excitement.

“The building was very run down. It has really brought it into the 21st century.

“It is definitely a positive thing if the company is willing to open in disused sites and inject some prosperity.” Hans Wusterveld, from Basildon town centre management, welcomed plans for Aldi to open in Basildon.

He said: “I am a fan of both Lidl and Aldi. I think they are good for shoppers and good for Basildon.

“They offer competition which hopefully keeps prices down and they give shoppers choice.”

David Burch from Essex Chambers of Commerce, added: “We don’t know exactly where it will be locating its proposed new stores, but feel it is better to have a new Aldi store rather than an unused site or empty business premises.

“We want to see a healthy economy in Essex and believe Aldi will play its part in achieving that aim.”

Aldi said jobs it plans to create will include management as well as shop floor and distribution centre positions.

Along with its fellow German counterpart Lidl, the chain has been putting the “big four”

supermarket chains under pressure with lower prices that have proved popular with consumers.

Aldi has a 4.8 per cent share of the UK grocery market.

By comparison, Tesco has a 28.8 per cent share and Asda is second with 17.4 per cent.