Special Buys vs Core: two different games.
Aldi Australia operates two distinct supplier programs. Core is the steady-state grocery range — products with a permanent SKU and ongoing replenishment. Special Buys is the rotating Wednesday/Saturday promotional range — products that land for a week or two and then disappear forever.
Special Buys is unforgiving — landing late means missing the entire promotion. Core operates more like Coles/Woolworths — ongoing PO cycle with chargebacks for late deliveries and short shipments. Your 3PL needs to understand which program you're in and operate accordingly.
EDI and trading.
Aldi uses standard EDI X12 messages (850, 855, 856, 810) similar to other AU majors. Trading partner setup is via SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, or direct EDI VAN. ASN timing rules are similar to Woolworths/Coles — 4 hours before DC arrival window typically.
Special Buys deliveries are often single-shot — one truck, one window, no re-bookings. Miss it and the product doesn't go to shelf. A tight ASN process and a 3PL with redundancy on dispatch is essential.
Palletisation and labelling.
GS1 SSCC labels mandatory on pallets. ITF-14 barcodes on cartons, Grade C minimum. Aldi accepts CHEP and Loscam pool pallets — same as Coles/Woolworths.
Pallet height capped at 1,650mm including pallet. Weight capped at typical 1,000kg. Wrap must be clear (not coloured/black). No overhang above 50mm.
Common chargebacks.
Late delivery: $500–$1,500 (higher than Coles for Special Buys due to promo timing). Short shipment: can result in promotion cancellation (loss of revenue, not just deduction). Incorrect labelling: $100–$200 per pallet. Quality non-conformance: Aldi tests aggressively — failed product audits can trigger range deletion.
What to demand from your 3PL.
Special Buys experience — ask for references and recent performance data. The supplier base for Special Buys is more concentrated than for Coles/Woolies — fewer 3PLs are fluent in it.
Tight booking workflow with backup dispatch capacity for Special Buys windows. Quality-controlled inbound and pre-dispatch inspection on first runs of new SKUs. Documented chargeback rate across their Aldi-trading client base.
Get matched with Aldi-aware 3PLs.
Whether you're trading Core or Special Buys, we'll match you with vetted AU 3PLs that have current Aldi trading and a known chargeback record.
Get matched →Frequently asked
- Is Aldi harder than Coles?
- Different, not necessarily harder. Core Aldi is comparable to Coles steady-state. Special Buys is brutally unforgiving on timing — miss the window and the product doesn't make it to shelf at all, which is worse than a chargeback.
- Does Aldi require EDI?
- Yes for meaningful trading volume. Standard EDI 850/855/856/810 stack via the usual VANs (SPS, TrueCommerce, B2BE).
- What's the difference for 3PL operations between Core and Special Buys?
- Core operates on rolling PO cycles with predictable cadence. Special Buys is single-shot, time-critical, with severe consequences for missing the window. Core 3PLs and Special Buys 3PLs aren't necessarily the same operational mindset.
Cite this page as: 3PL Compare. (2026). Aldi supplier requirements — Special Buys, Core, and EDI (2026). Retrieved from https://3plcompare.com.au/aldi-supplier-requirements