THE PUBLIC ASKED TO HELP LIDL LOCATE NEW SCOTTISH STORES

Lidl GB has called on the Scottish public for support in identifying sites for new stores across Scotland.

The discount retailer, which is investing £1.3bn in its expansion across 2021 and 2022, is offering a finder’s fee to members of the public who successfully identify suitable sites for new Lidl stores.

The fee is either 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.

The news comes as Lidl publishes its annual list of locations across the country where it is interested in acquiring sites for potential store developments.

Since the beginning of 2022, Lidl has already opened 23 new stores across the UK, including stores in Bellshill, Blairgowrie and Edinburgh Straiton. The latest list of stores also includes Dundee, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.

In March it became the 6th largest supermarket in the UK.

Richard Taylor, chief development officer said at Lidl GB, said: “We’re opening an average of one new store a week, which is incredible, and our teams have done a phenomenal job of keeping that pace going over the last couple of years.

But there are still communities up and down the country that are telling us how much they want a Lidl store. We work with some of the best people in the industry to identify new sites, but we also know how engaged our future and existing customers are and we want to build on this.”

He added: “Our finder’s fees are, therefore, available to absolutely anyone that can identify a viable option for a new store that we’re not already aware of, and we welcome any suitable suggestions that will help up us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.”

Site requirements include prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow. Freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities are preferred.

Unit sizes should be between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft, with room for more than 100 dedicated car parking spaces. For standalone stores, Lidl is looking for more than 1.5 acres or up to four acres for mixed-use schemes.

Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl has grown to more than 27,500 employees, with more than 920 stores and 13 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales.

Part of the Schwarz retail group, the supermarket – which has more than 341,000 employees globally – currently operates approximately 11,550 stores and more than 200 warehouses in 31 countries. The group generated a turnover of €125bn in the financial year 2020.