The international store chain, which has operated in Australia since 2001, opened the centre last Wednesday.

The complex, which will train staff from all over NSW, tests food, washing powders and other products.

Its food testing includes cooking and double-blind taste tests to ensure the best possible items make it to the supermarket shelves.

One room has a mock-up store, along with an electronic scanner, so staff experience as authentic a training schedule as possible.

Aldi Australia's group managing director, Michael Kloeters, said up to 150 people at a time could be trained there.

``Our staff are our biggest asset,'' Mr Kloeters said.

``We offer the best pay and conditions and believe that permanent staff should work the tills, rather than casuals.''

He also said the company strove to offer high quality goods at competitive prices.

``We opened in Australia only eight years ago and now have 205 stores on the eastern seaboard.''

Local federal MP for Prospect, Chris Bowen, said that Australians had benefited from Aldi's operations.

``We have a relatively concentrated grocery market in Australia,'' he said.

``The solution is more competition.

``Even those who choose not to shop at Aldi benefit from the competition.''

Mr Bowen said he was pleased to be opening a new centre in western Sydney, because anything which created jobs in these uncertain times was to be welcomed.