Discount Retail Chain Lidl GB (owned by the German Schwarz Group) is now the third largest supermarket in London after overtaking Asda and hitting a market share high of 9.1%. As well as experiencing the fastest growth out of all supermarkets in the city, it was also named fastest-growing supermarket in the UK as a whole.
With more than double the market share of any other discount supermarket in the capital1, Lidl’s growth forms part of its £500 million investment into London, while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all Londoners have a Lidl store within easy reach. Unlike other supermarkets that run convenience models in city centres, which could be costing London households hundreds more a year, Lidl is committed to providing all its customers with access to good food at low prices, no matter where they live.
In 2022, the discounter marked its expansion in London by opening nine new stores, including locations in East Acton, Kingston, and Upton Park, while also securing a further five sites in the city for future expansion, generating hundreds of new job opportunities in the process.
Early next year, it’s set to open another store in East Ham and it has started construction at its Newbury Park and Bellingham sites, further contributing to local employment. Those working at Lidl receive the highest pay in the supermarket sector, with hourly wages within the M25 starting at £12.85, rising to £13.15, along with a competitive benefits package including colleague discount.
Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB CEO, said: “We have a clear commitment to providing shoppers with the very best value, and becoming the third-largest supermarket in London reinforces our dedication to ensuring that everyone can eat affordable, high quality food, no matter where they live. We know convenience plays a huge factor when choosing where to shop in the city, which is why we’re pushing on with plans to bring many more locations to the capital in the future.”
Outlining its intentions to extend its great value offerings to even more households in the capital, the discounter has published a list of priority locations for new stores. Currently, Lidl boasts over 100 within London and the M25, with ambitious plans for more than 100, including areas such as Earls Court, Westminster, Kings Cross, and even Knightsbridge.
The discounter has also doubled down on its plans to strengthen its warehouse infrastructure to increase capacity across the country. Just last month, it opened its £300m Regional Distribution Centre in Luton to service over 150 stores in and around the capital, further cementing its commitment to London.
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