Lidl has listed the 23 Welsh locations it plans to open new branches in. What's more, the supermarket is offering up to £22,500 for anyone who can find suitable sites. Yes, you read that right.
On Tuesday, April 26 the store published its latest list of desired locations across the country as it aims to reach 1,100 stores by the end of 2025. It has also revealed that it will pay a finder's fee to anyone that successfully identifies a suitable site for a new Lidl store.
The chain, which is investing £1.3 billion in its expansion across 2021 and 2022, has said the fee will be 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.
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Chief development officer at Lidl GB, Richard Taylor, said: "We know that the majority of Welsh shoppers still love doing their shopping in person and we are as committed as ever to opening new stores and enhancing our existing ones. 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 – and need - 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. 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 us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025."
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. The latest list includes the following locations in and around Wales:
Abergele
Abergavenny
Barry
Brecon
Builth Wells
Caldicot
Cardiff - City Centre
Caernarfon
Llandudno
Llanelli
Maesteg
Merthyr Tydfil
Newport
Penarth
Pontypool
Pyle
Rhyl
Swansea (including Fforestfach and Pontarddulais)
Talbot Green
Tenby
The discounter says that suitable locations must have easy access and a strong pedestrian or traffic flow. The units must be between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft, and be able to provide 100 or more dedicated car parking spaces. They must also be in town centres, edge of centres or retail parks.
Members of the public who know of potential sites are encouraged to check details against Lidl’s site requirements and contact the supermarket’s property team with further details. More information can be found here: www.lidl.co.uk/about-us/property. For more what's on and shopping stories from WalesOnline, you can get our newsletter here.
