German supermarket giant, Kaufland, has ramped up its local hiring, with reports revealing $14 million in Aussie staff costs – a five fold increase since 2018.

Reported by The Australian, documents submitted to ASIC last week reveal 123 staff by the end of its financial year in February.

According to seek.com.au, Kaufland is also currently recruiting for roles across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and more.

As previously reported, Kaufland is expected to open its first Australian supermarket next year, and is currently awaiting planning approval for its mega-sites.

[SEEK.com.au]

The supermarket chain is known for being a top seller of appliances in Europe, and usually employs big-box sites for ‘one stop’ shopping.

Aussie retailers are bracing for the German conglomerate to unleash a $459 million investment for its local expansion.

Accounts show Kaufland’s net loss jumped from $4.8 million to $25.9 million versus a year ago, coinciding with its distribution and store expansion plans.

The news comes as the local consumer electronics market continues to become more saturated with heightened low-cost competition from Kogan.com, ALDI and Amazon Australia.

[ALDI]