ONE of the UK's leading supermarket chains has announced it will scrap its click-and-collect service next week.

Ten stores across Somerset and North Somerset will be impacted by the decision, which will come into effect from Monday, August 19.

In an email to customers, Aldi UK revealed shoppers will no longer be able to use the service as the business pursues higher 'operational efficiency'.

Aldi also cited its focus on "providing customers with high-quality products at the lowest possible prices" as the reason for discontinuing the service.

A spokesperson said: "At Aldi, our focus is on providing customers with high-quality products at the lowest possible prices.

"One of the ways we keep our prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket business in Britain.

"As a result, we’ve made the decision to bring our Click & Collect service to an end so we can focus on doing just that.”

The service, which launched in September 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed customers to collect their online orders without physical contact. By 2021, it was offered at over 200 locations across the UK.

However, the service will be discontinued at ten Somerset stores, including both Taunton branches, Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet, Yeovil, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare, Worle, and Clevedon, on Monday next week.

The chain affirmed that shoppers who have already placed orders will still be able to collect them before the deadline.

On Facebook, one disgruntled customer described the decision as "a step backwards" and added that it "needs a serious rethink."

Another exclaimed: "Sadly we won't be using Aldi anymore because of this. I'm disabled and have severe anxiety, so going shopping is a pure nightmare. Click-and-collect was a life saver."

A third said: "Our family is super busy and there are weeks where this service really saved the day."