Global discount supermarket giant Aldi has no plans to expand to the New Zealand market, the company says.
Customers outside an Aldi store in Germany. Photo: AFP
The clarification comes after acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson suggested it was among a number of players interested in the New Zealand market.
Robertson was expressing confidence that government plans to shake up the supermarket sector would result in increased competition and lead to lower prices.
These include having Foodstuffs and Woolworths open up the wholesale pafrt of their businesses to would-be competitors to purchase groceries at a fair price, or face a mandatory regine.
It was possible a number of other retailers may enter the market.
"We've got interest from a number of other players", he said on Tuesday, noting German discount supermarket Aldi as one of the "players in the Australian market that people can take a look at".
A spokesperson for the chain has since confirmed it has "no current plans to expand into New Zealand".
Aldi set up shop in Australia in 2001 and has helped to drive down prices since. It took more than a decade for it to become the country's third biggest player.
US retail giant Costco was already set to open a single store in West Auckland later this year.