ALDI is supporting its charity partner, Freedom4Girls, in calling for more supermarkets to make free period products available in store toilets, as new research reveals shoppers in the North West support supermarkets providing free access to essential period products.

Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls and Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK and Ireland, have jointly written to the chief executives of major UK supermarkets, calling on them to make free period products available where store facilities allow.

The Aldi-commissioned survey of more than 230 shoppers in the North West found that 72% believe supermarkets should provide free pads and tampons in customer toilets, while 74% say they would be more likely to view a supermarket positively if it offered the service.

The research also found that 79% of shoppers in the North West think period products should be treated as an everyday bathroom essential, just like toilet paper and soap, while 70% say supermarkets have an important role to play in supporting people who may struggle to access or afford them.

It comes after Aldi became the first UK supermarket to offer free period products in all customer and colleague toilets, with customers and colleagues able to take what they need, when they need it – no code word or loyalty scheme needed.

Since launching the initiative in March 2025, Aldi has provided one million free period products through its store toilets, helping to make everyday essentials such as tampons and pads more accessible to everyone who needs them.

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."

The findings also suggest that free period products in supermarket toilets would help tackle a range of barriers, with 73% of shoppers in the North West saying the provision would help people who unexpectedly come on their period while away from home, 54% 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, 62% of shoppers in the North West selected supermarket customer toilets, ahead of shopping centres, leisure centres, transport hubs and other public toilets.

69% of shoppers in the North West also said they would expect large supermarkets to provide free period products in customer toilets, while 60% said they would be more likely to shop with a retailer that made period products freely available in-store.

Among those in the North West who have or have ever had a period, 50% said they had been caught short without period products while shopping or away from home, while 94% said they had used toilet roll, tissue or another alternative because they did not have a product available.

Aldi’s in-store provision forms part of its wider commitment to supporting communities and improving access to everyday essentials. The supermarket has also donated one million period products to people experiencing period poverty through partnerships with charities including Freedom4Girls.

Customers can also donate period products through Aldi’s in-store donation points, with items distributed to food banks and charitable organisations via its community partner Neighbourly.