Lidl has announced that it will open more than 50 new stores in the next 12 months as part of a £600million investment.
Britain’s sixth-biggest grocer said the openings will create almost 2,000 new jobs as it hopes to poach more customers from traditional major supermarkets.
It plans to open stores this summer, including in Abbots Langley near Watford, Warrington in Cheshire, and Thornbury in Gloucestershire.
Ryan McDonnell, CEO at Lidl GB, said: ‘As we grow, we want to positively impact our British communities. We’re not just opening doors, we’re unlocking regional growth. Our expansion translates directly into high-quality jobs and gives British suppliers the certainty they need to invest in the future.’
Lidl is Britain’s sixth-largest supermarket and hot on the heels of traditional rivals including Morrisons
It holds 8.3 per cent of the grocery market, according to the most recent data by market researchers at Worldpanel by Numerator, which was published at the end of last month. This is compared to 7.8 per cent at the same time last year.
And it means Lidl is neck-and-neck with Morrisons, which has been struggling to retain shoppers since its private-equity buyout a few years ago.
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