National grocery chain Aldi Inc. is expanding its two-store presence in Maryland and opening a supermarket in Harford County.

The Illinois-based chain, which has more than 500 stores, including one in Baltimore and one in Langley Park, will build a 20,000-square-foot store at Clayton Station Business Center in Edgewood. It is scouting for sites throughout the Baltimore region, according to KLNB Inc., brokerage firm for the center.

Aldi is a limited-assortment grocery store -- smaller than most supermarkets -- that stocks only the fastest-moving items in a single size and single brand, such as chicken, ketchup, lettuce and milk.

"Our research shows that consumers typically purchase a consistently sized item, so our philosophy is to stock the products that are most requested and sold," said Tony Eisenhut, vice president for the chain's Center Valley, Pa., division.

The chain sells mostly private-label items at discounts of 30 percent to 50 percent. Instead of finding Nabisco saltine crackers, for example, shoppers will find Baker's Treat brand in a 1-pound box for 39 cents.

Pub Date: 9/24/98