German discount supermarket chain Aldi claimed a notable planning success this week when it got permission to open in the Northside Retail Park in Coolock. It won't be a conventional supermarket as you might expect from canny Germans who do a great trade in obscure branded foods at the keenest possible price. Instead it will be a neighbourhood store, according to their PR consultants, but what that means is difficult to fathom. It does mean, however, that Aldi has played it smart with the planners who are normally more than a little reluctant to have food shops in retail parks.