Upheaval In U.K. Grocery Industry Beginning To Spread To U.S.

German discount grocery retailers Aldi and Lidl have infested the British grocery industry for several years now, devouring market share at the expense of traditional players like Tesco and Asda. Their stock prices have plunged, spurring executive dismissals, layoffs and divestitures. The upheaval is just beginning to affect the $1 trillion U.S. grocery market. A&P, squeezed for years by competitors at the high end (Whole Foods) and low end (Walmart), said its bankruptcy is forcing it to close or sell its remaining stores. The German discounters are now set to boost their presence in the U.S. Aldi will spend $3 billion opening 600 new stores in Southern California. Lidl announced it will enter the U.S. market within three years.