Aldi and Freedom4Girls have written to chief executives of major supermarkets (Image: Getty)
Aldi is supporting its charity partner, Freedom4Girls, in calling for more supermarkets to make free period products available in store toilets. Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls and Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, have jointly written to the chief executives of major UK supermarkets, calling on them to make free period products available where store facilities allow. This comes as new Aldi-commissioned research found that 67% of shoppers think supermarkets should provide free period products in customer toilets.
67% also said they would be more likely to view a supermarket positively if it offered the service, and three-quarters (75%) of shoppers said they believe period products should be treated as an everyday bathroom essential, just like toilet paper and soap. In addition, 66% said supermarkets have an important role to play in supporting people who may struggle to access or afford them.
Aldi has provided one million free period products through its store toilets (Image: Aldi)
The supermarket said it was the first UK supermarket to offer free period products in all customer and colleague toilets. Since launching the initiative in March 2025, Aldi has provided one million free period products through its store toilets, in an effort to help make everyday essentials such as tampons and pads more accessible to everyone who needs them.
The findings also suggested that free period products in supermarket toilets would help tackle a range of barriers, with 69% of shoppers saying the provision would help people who unexpectedly come on their period while away from home, 58% saying it would help those who cannot afford products when they need them, and 48% saying it would reduce embarrassment around asking for or buying period products.
When asked where free period products should be made available, 56% of shoppers selected supermarket customer toilets, ahead of shopping centres, transport hubs and leisure centres. 62% also said they would expect large supermarkets to provide free period products in customer toilets, while just over half said they would be more likely to shop with a retailer that made period products freely available in-store.
Among those who have or have ever had a period, 53% said they had been caught short without period products while shopping or away from home, while 93% said they had used toilet roll, tissue or another alternative because they did not have a product available.
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.
“This is a simple, practical step that could make a real difference to customers and colleagues across the country. These products are essential, and we believe making them freely available is the right thing to do.”
Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls, a menstrual equity charity dedicated to tackling period poverty, 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.”
Customers can donate period products through Aldi’s in-store donation points, with items distributed to food banks and charitable organisations via its community partner Neighbourly.
