Aldi has called on fellow supermarkets to follow its lead in offering free period products in customer toilets.
The retailer, alongside menstrual equity charity Freedom4Girls, has written to the chief executives of major UK grocery chains, encouraging them to make pads and tampons available to shoppers in-store, where facilities allow.
The call follows an Aldi-commissioned survey of 2,000 UK shoppers, which found that 67% believe supermarkets should provide free period products in customer toilets.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: "Access to period products should be a basic right, not a privilege.
"That is why we made free period products available in our store toilets for customers and colleagues, with no questions asked.
"The latest research shows shoppers support supermarkets making period products more accessible.
"Together with Freedom4Girls, we’ve written to the chief executives of other major UK supermarkets, encouraging them to consider introducing free period products where facilities allow."
The survey also revealed that 75% of respondents view period products as an everyday bathroom essential, equivalent to toilet paper and soap, while 67% said they would view a supermarket more positively if it offered the service.
'Period poverty remains a huge issue in the UK'
Aldi says it became the first UK supermarket to introduce free period products in all customer and colleague toilets in March 2025.
Since then, it has provided one million free period products through its store toilets, with customers and colleagues able to take what they need without using a code word or signing up to a loyalty scheme.
Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls, said: "Period poverty remains a huge issue in the UK, and we’re encouraged to see Aldi continuing to use its platform to push for wider change.
"Providing free period products in supermarket toilets is a practical way to help people access what they need discreetly and with dignity.
"We would welcome more retailers taking similar action to help tackle stigma, affordability and access."
The research suggests the move could address several barriers.
In total, 69% said it would help people who start their period unexpectedly while out, while 58% said it would support those who cannot afford products when they need them.
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Nearly half (48%) believe it would reduce embarrassment around asking for or buying period products.
Separately, Aldi has donated one million period products to people experiencing period poverty through its charity partnerships, including with Freedom4Girls.
Customers can also donate items via Aldi’s in-store donation points, with products distributed to food banks and charitable organisations by Aldi’s partner, Neighbourly.
Do you agree with Aldi's suggestion to other supermarkets? Let us know in the comments.
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