Millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith has launched an extraordinary attack on Aldi, accusing the discount supermarket of draining Australia of its wealth.
Mr Smith released a video yesterday in which he labelled Aldi a ‘highly secretive German company which showed ‘no loyalty to Australia’.
‘I noticed more and more that they are abandoning our Australian farmers and producers,’ he said in the video.
‘For example, their peanut butter comes from South America. Once again, we lost out.’
Millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith has launched an extraordinary attack on Aldi and accused the discount supermarket of draining Australia of its wealth (stock image)
He said Aldi was Australia’s lowest cost and most profitable supermarket chain because it managed to share ‘less of its wealth.’
‘We all love low prices, but not so low that more and more of our young people can never have a full-time career.’
Mr Smith went on to say that the private nature of the company was an attack on Australia’s value of a ‘fair-go.’
‘Aldi is completely at odds with the Aussie free enterprise system,’ he said.
‘Key the owners into Google… they are obsessively secretive.
‘[They] have never done an interview with the media about what vision they have with Australia.’
Dick Smith (pictured) let loose in his recent video to throw numerous accusations against Aldi
The attack comes after Mr Smith slammed hotel booking websites and claimed patrons could get a cheaper price if they contact businesses directly.
Mr Smith first caused a stir with Aldi in July this year, when he suggested it had forced him into closing his food company.
An Aldi spokesperson hit back at Mr Smith’s comments and said Aldi has always been a supporter of Australia and its farmers.
‘Aldi started in 2001 with two stores and has grown to 516 across the country. It launched with 179 suppliers and now works with more than 1,000.’
The spokesperson said that all its meat is sourced from Australia.
They highlighted the only time they source from anywhere else is when fruit is out of season, though he noted this is standard practice across all supermarkets.
‘We will continue to focus on what we do best, which is quality products at low prices,’ they said.
Mr Smith released a video yesterday in which he labelled Aldi a ‘highly secretive German company which showed ‘no loyalty to Australia’ (stock image)