Lidl to open 10 stores before Christmas
Lidl is set to open 10 stores before Christmas, extending the supermarket retailer’s reach across the country.
The expansion includes locations such as Berwick Green in Bristol, Bovey Tracey in Devon, and Stirchley in Birmingham, as the discounter looks to grow its presence nationwide.
In London – where last year Lidl was named the fastest growing supermarket – the retailer will be opening stores in Hoxton, Forest Gate, and Caterham, as it targets a greater foothold in the capital.
In addition to the new stores, Lidl will reopen three existing stores that have either been relocated or refurbished and extended, including Chessington, Connah’s Quay and Dagenham Heathway.
The announcement follows Lidl’s opening of a new store in the seaside town of Worthing at the end of the summer, followed by the launch of its new Fulham store in September.
The news comes as Lidl exchanges on a £70m sale-and-leaseback deal with Roadside Real Estate and Meadow Partners’ joint venture. The deal includes 12 new stores in locations such as Crediton, Manchester, and Saffron Walden.
Richard Taylor, chief development officer at Lidl GB, said: “Our plan to open 10 new stores before Christmas demonstrates our continued commitment to providing more communities across the country with access to affordable, quality food, as well as employment opportunities. But we still have big ambitions for our expansion plans to open hundreds more Lidl stores in the future. Our teams are constantly scouring the country for new sites, identifying opportunities not just in towns where we don’t currently have stores, but also in areas where existing stores are experiencing increasing demand. Our sale and leaseback deal is just the latest example of how we’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country, ensuring that even more households can benefit from a Lidl store nearby.”