As it marks 30 years since the opening of its first store in the UK, Lidl has announced plans to open hundreds of new outlets across the country.
This follows a year of investment in its infrastructure to strengthen its operations to support its expansion plans, including the opening of Lidl’s largest warehouse in the world in Luton.
The discounter has also been enhancing its existing estate. This included the completion of an extension to its Welsh distribution centre in Bridgend, along with progress on expanding its Belvedere warehouse, which will result in its size and capacity being doubled once the project is complete.
Meanwhile, Lidl has also introduced enhancements to its store estate, including the rollout of electronic shelf labels.
The discounter, which has consistently been the fastest growing bricks & mortar supermarket for the past seven months, stated that it was now doubling down on its store opening programme to continue growing its market share.
In the coming months, Lidl will open new stores across the country, including Bristol, Birmingham, and Berwick in Scotland. In London, where it is now the third-largest supermarket, Lidl will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town.
The discounter has today published its latest list of desired locations for potential new stores. This includes cities such as Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, and London, and towns from Woking and Wadebridge to Dumfries and Didcot.
Richard Taylor, Lidl GB Chief Development Officer, said: “We have also been the fastest-growing bricks & mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row. With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we’re welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.
“As we celebrate our 30th year, our commitment to ensuring that all households across the country have access to high quality produce at affordable prices is stronger than ever. We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential. This is why we’re continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion.”
NAM Implications:
- Lidl are patently on a roll…
- …‘fastest growing brick & mortar retailer’…
- …determined to grow share by investing in geographical coverage.
- Thereby begging the question: ‘Are suppliers making sufficient effort in finding ways of accessing this incremental potential?’
