German discount giants Aldi and Lidl are bringing a near 200 job boost to North Wales at a time other supermarket giants are cutting roles.
The companies both have ambitious plans for expanding across the region with more than 10 target locations for new stores - and the wheels are already in motion on some sites.
Aldi has already opened a new store in Rhyl this summer - with additional jobs created as they relocated to a larger site on Marina Quay.
This has been followed by the opening of a new supermarket at Ruabon near Wrexham today - adding an extra 40 jobs in the area.
Planning has also been secured for a new Aldi at Ruthin this week which will bring the jobs total up to around 100.
Other target sites for the future include Pwllheli and Holyhead.
When it comes to Lidl the company is set to get underway on a new store in Llandudno Junction with a planned opening next summer.
Plans are also in the pipeline for the former Wrexham police station site - with planners due to decide on that scheme next month.
These could also bring close to 100 roles to the area.
Other target sites for the future include Rhyl, Abergele, Flint, Caernarfon and Llandudno.
The expanding job numbers come at time when some of the traditional ‘Big Four’ have been reducing staff numbers. In January Tesco revealed it was cutting jobs under plans to close or cut opening hours of food counters in larger stores. They also announced reductions in job numbers at Tesco Metro stores.
Asda and Morrisons have also been restructuring staff as they face up to the challenge posed by their German rivals in the grocery sector.
