Lidl is a German chain of discount supermarkets that has worldwide operations, including in the UK. The company has more than 9,000 stores in different parts of Europe and has its head offices in Livingston for its UK operations.
History
Lidl was created in the 1930s and was originally a wholesale grocery business. The business was started in Germany by the Schwarz family. The first store put up by the family was called “Schwarz Assorted Wholesale Foods.” The name Lidl was the surname of the Schwarz’ former partner in business, Ludwig Lidl and Schwarz bought the rights to the store’s name.
The first stores that were already named Lidl were opened in 1973. The stores had a similar concept with those of Aldi stores. By 1977, there were 33 discount stores in the country. All of these retail stores were kept as small as possible and products that did not sell were removed from the shelves. This system worked fine with its customers, which is why the number of Lidl stores grew.
By the 1980s, the stores had become a popular household name throughout Germany. By the 1990s, Lidl started its expansion plan by opening stores outside of the country. By 1994, Lidl retail stores were operating in the UK.
Currently, Lidl has over 580 stores throughout the United Kingdom and has become the closest competitor of Aldi in the area of discount retailing. Although Lidl in the UK is still considered a minor player in the retail industry (with a market share of more or less 5%), the discount chain is still thought of as one of the important retailers in UK.
Just like Aldi, a majority of the products sold in Lidl stores are private labels, which is why it offers really low prices for its products. Among the brands that Lidl owns are Silvercrest and FAIRGLOBE. The Silvercrest label is for electronic products, while the FAIRGLOBE label is for fair trade food products, which Lidl supports. Even with already having thousands of stores around Europe, Lidl continues to expand, as it still has plans to put up stores in countries like Canada and Mexico.
Headquarters: Livingston,UK
Ownership Type: Private
Employees: about 690
Geography: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland
Demography: quantity consumers, quality consumers
Brands
FAIRGLOBE®, Silvercrest®
Important links
Lidl Corporate Home Page
Promotions and Coupons
Products
Jobs and Careers
Lidl Contact Information
Hello from North Dakota, we could really use, no we need a lidl in either Bismarck or Dickinson ND. The oil industry is beaming again, a Lidl would do well!!!
You really missed the boat here in Pawleys Island SC. 29585. You had a location, the owner of the property got it rezoned for you, and then you decided not to build a store here. I’m so very disappointed. If you’re considering that there isn’t enough population to sustain a store, you are so wrong. During the last 10 years since the last census, we have almost tripled in growth. Not only do we have permanent residents in abundance, but we get a surge of tourists in the Spring & Summer months, and also the “snowbirds” come down for the winter from Canada and the northern states. We have five grocery stores, but no competition from Lidl. The owner of the property that you backed out of, is as I type this, improving the lot for building. I’m told it has not yet been purchased, that the owner has to do the improvements or they will lose the money he had to pay to rezone it. Please reconsider this property. There’s a ready and willing workforce here in Pawleys Island, also.
I was just at one of your stores really enjoyed it but it was a drive It would be neat if you could have on in Morgantown Pa I think it would do great hear
I shopped in your Huntington Station , NY Store last week for the first time. I have shopped in BEST YET then Best Market for years. I miss the old store.
You offer food, sanders, wrenches, ladies underwear, Bras. I did not see the breads I would purchase at Best market. I want a food store to sell food. If I want a wrench or a wrench or a drill I’ll go to a tool store. I went to the Best Market on Larkfield road in Northport. I learned that store is closing in the summer to become a Lidl. Best Market was a good store. Why mess with it?
I heard your store was to come to Millsboro, DE, at some point. You would be welcomed here. Are you coming soon???? Hope so.
We could sure use a store in North East Tennessee,,, like in Jonesborough or vicinity.
Visited your store in South Carolina for the first time yesterday and lived it, so bright and clean!! Please build a store in Columbus, Ohio. We just got a huge IKEA so the demographics must be good in the area!
Please build a store in Englewood, NJ. We have no competition here in Englewood, NJ.Your store would do very well here.
Englewood, New Jersey is a town of about 30,000 people with only 1 supermarket. It would be great if you would build a Lidl store here. Thank you.
I visited Virginia Beach and bought food in your store and I liked it very much. We need you’re store in Debary, Sandford or Orange City in Florida. I miss LIDL.