As shoppers around the world continue to chase value, the discount model that once thrived on simplicity and consistency is no longer standing still.

From urban small-box concepts and fresh-led assortments to private label premiumisation and digital-enabled efficiency, discounters are reinventing their formats to stay relevant in markets and meet changing shopper missions.

The problem facing the channel is no longer whether discount drives traffic, but how far the discounter proposition can stretch before it loses the clarity and cost advantage that made it successful in the first place.

Here, we explore examples from across global discount, looking at new formats designed to drive footfall and frequency to stores.

No Fills enhances the shopper experience

No Frills has opened a “next‑gen” store in Komoka, Ontario, featuring a refreshed exterior and interior that blends timber and steel to create a warmer, more modern shopping environment shaped by shopper feedback. The store includes an expanded bakery section, a home meal replacement category including hot chickens made daily, and a range of multicultural products.

Improved navigation and a more pleasant in‑store experience can also support higher visit frequency by making quick, top‑up shops easier while reinforcing the value message if prices remain competitive.

Mercadona introduces a smarter store format for shoppers and employees

Store 9 is the Spanish discounter’s next‑generation supermarket model, that simplifies operations, improves efficiency and delivers a faster, clearer shopping experience. It has centralised food preparation, reallocated space to fresh products and integrated technical innovation to create a more productive, sustainable and future‑ready store.

A clearer layout, stronger fresh offer and smoother shopper journey make shopping quicker and more enjoyable, giving shoppers more reasons to choose Mercadona for everyday trips.

To learn more about this new format look out for our Inside Mercadona’s new high-efficiency discount store report, coming out in April 2026.

Family Dollar to test urban small‑box format

Family Dollar plans to pilot an extra‑small box store format in 2026 designed for dense urban locations, as part of its post‑separation from Dollar Tree strategy to simplify the business and optimise its store fleet. The format sits alongside store closures and a broader ‘Value Creation’ program aimed at improving execution, profitability and long‑term growth.

By meeting everyday needs closer to where people live and work, the format is likely to encourage more frequent trips and reinforce Family Dollar’s role as a regular top‑up destination.

Aldi Polska takes convenience to the platform

Aldi Nord has opened its first-ever Polish store in a train station, launching the Aldi Compact 2.0 format at Warsaw’s Tunelowa Street with a smaller footprint that still delivers the full product range. The store combines space-efficient design, extended opening hours and digital solutions, such as self-checkouts, to meet the needs of busy urban shoppers.

Its location within a high-traffic transport hub embeds the store into shoppers’ daily routines, capturing commuters, travellers and Sunday shoppers seeking speed and convenience.

Tiendas 3A has added emotion to its hard discount model

Tiendas 3A has launched its first themed store in Peru, marking a strategic shift that elevates the hard discount model through innovation, visual storytelling and added value beyond low prices. Developed in partnership with AJE Group’s Cielo water brand, the concept delivers a distinctive visual and sensory experience that reimagines everyday discount shopping.

The immersive, themed environment and high-profile brand partnership create a sense of novelty and excitement that attracts new shoppers and encourages trial.

HotMaxx turning value seeking into a retail destination

The Chinese discounter’s new super warehouse format dramatically upsizes its discount model, offering over 10,000 square metres of constantly refreshed branded food, fashion and lifestyle goods at deeply reduced prices, sourced from excess or slow-moving inventory. The format leans into a ‘treasure hunt’ experience, with rapid sell-through, algorithm-driven pricing and an ever-changing assortment that makes each visit feel new.

The fast-turnover ranges and unpredictability of what’s on offer encourage repeat visits, as shoppers return frequently to avoid missing out on new deals.

Why innovation doesn’t have to undermine value

Value is no longer just about the lowest possible price, but about saving time, effort and stress while meeting everyday needs well. By selectively enhancing formats through better layouts, stronger fresh offers, smarter locations and operational efficiency, discounters can add relevance without eroding their price credentials.

The challenge is discipline, looking to evolve where it can drive footfall and frequency, while resisting unnecessary complexity. Those that strike this balance will prove that innovation and affordability are not competing forces, but complementary drivers of sustainable growth.

Understand the discount trends driving the channel’s growth

New store formats, as part of the driving footfall & frequency trend, is just one of the ways discounters will drive sales growth over the next 12 months.

Our report examines the key trends, considering the broader context of the global retail environment to provide actionable insights for retailers and suppliers.

The full report, ‘Global discount trends 2026’, is available on the IGD website for Retail Analysis subscribers. 

A free four-page report preview is also available for non-subscribers.