Over the next eight weeks, the German retailer is planning to open 19 new stores up and down the UK, creating as many as 640 new roles.
The new locations will diversify the supermarket chain’s presence across the nation, with stores to open from Calne in Wiltshire up to Brough in Yorkshire.
As part of its concerted expansion drive, Lidl will additionally invest more than £40 million in modernising over 70 of its existing stores.
These investments will also see the retailer further expand support for 35+ local charities and community food redistribution partners.
The news caps off a continued period of rapid growth for Lidl, which according to its own estimates now reaches over 60% of British households and contributed £14.5 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy in the 2024 financial year.
Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB said: “We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve.
“With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market.”
Currently the UK’s fastest growing bricks and mortar retailer, the company’s systematic series of investments and new store openings form part of its ‘Lidl Effect’ strategy, which aims to embed itself in and improve the communities it serves.
Through its surplus food donation scheme, Feed it Back - delivered with charity partner Neighbourly – Lidl provided 18.5 million meals last year, supporting 6.8 million people across Great Britain.
This positive new year expansion drive comes hot on the heels of what the retailer has called its “biggest Christmas ever” in which it experienced record footfall.
