ALDI, in response to an increase in its shopper base as well as competition, announces Wednesday an aggressive $1.6 billion plan to remodel and expand more than 1,300 stores across the US by 2020.

The company said in a release that the new store look with deliver on its customers' desire for a modern and convenient shopping experience with a focus on fresh items, including more robust produce, dairy and bakery sections.

"With this significant investment in our stores, what we're really doing is continuing to invest in ALDI customers," says Jason Hart, CEO of ALDI. "We're continuing to expand our fresh offerings, which means we need to provide more space for produce, meat, and bakery items."

ALDI announced the remodel plan while continuing its push to open 650 new stores across the country. By the end of 2018, ALDI expects to operate nearly 2,000 stores. It will invest more than $3 million to pay for land, facilities and equipment to open these new stores.

As part of its aggressive expansion, ALDI launched its first stores in Southern California, opening 34 stores since March 2016. Today, ALDI reaches customers in more than two-thirds of the country and its footprint continues to grow in both new and existing markets.