Lidl reveals areas of Portsmouth and surrounding towns where it wants to open new stores
Lidl has said it wants to open 50 new stores in the next year - and has released a hitlist of areas in and around Portsmouth into which it would like to move in.
The rise of the discounters Aldi and Lidl shows no sign of abating - and indeed the further cost-of-living squeeze caused by the conflict in Iran will only mean more shoppers looking to lower the cost of their trolley.
In February Lidl open a new store in Havant, and now, as its chief executive reveals a £600m investment plan, it has revealed which areas it is targeting. These are not areas with a store being planned - but towns, villages and cities that Lidl likes the look of.
In The News area it has listed:
- Bishops Waltham
- Emsworth
- Fareham - North
- Portsmouth - Central / West
- Portsmouth – Farlington
- Fareham - Segensworth
- Cowplain / Horndean
and across Hampshire, these are the locations on its hitlist:
- Chandlers Ford
- Romsey
- Southampton - Bassett/Stoneham
- Southampton - Bitterne
- Southampton - Portswood
- Haslemere
- Winchester - centre/Easton Lane
- Winchester - West Badgers Farm
- Hook
Lidl is now the UK’s sixth largest supermarket chain and says this year it will create almost 2,000 jobs. Lidl said it will host more than 150 property partners and agents later this month to share its future growth plans as it targets new freehold, leasehold or long leasehold properties across Great Britain.
The firm has more than 1,000 stores across Britain, employing more than 35,000 workers.
Ryan McDonnell, chief executive of Lidl GB, said: “As we grow, we want to positively impact our British communities. We’re not just opening doors, we’re unlocking regional growth.
“Our expansion translates directly into high-quality jobs and gives British suppliers the certainty they need to invest in the future. Above all, it advances our social purpose of making affordable, healthy food accessible to everyone.”
Employment minister Kate Dearden said: “This kind of investment is exactly what we want to see from big employers – creating thousands of good jobs that pay fair wages and boost the standard of living in communities across the country.”
It comes after Lidl reported a 10 per cent surge in sales over a “record-breaking” Christmas, which saw nearly 51m customers shop with the discounter in the festive run-up. Alsi is also expanding, with a new store in Waterlooville being worked on at the moment.