Driving positive change – Lidl Northern Ireland celebrates 25 years
Marking its 25th anniversary in Northern Ireland, Lidl NI is enjoying a significant and sustained period of growth. Lidl NI MD, Ivan Ryan tells NR about the retailer’s ambitious growth plans.
Lidl first arrived in Northern Ireland, and in fact on the island of Ireland, with the opening of its first store in Cookstown in 1999. Heralding a new era for the grocery retail sector in the region, the discounter introduced a cheaper way for consumers to shop.
Over the last 25 years, it has seen remarkable growth and transformation, evolving significantly to meet customer demand. In the last two-and-a-half decades Lidl NI has expanded its offering to increase quality and value and give customers the ability to complete their full shop.
Ivan Ryan took up the role of Managing Director in August 2023 and from the outset focused on continuing to drive growth to ensure they reach more and more communities across Northern Ireland, while ensuring that they remain firmly rooted in the communities they serve.
“I wanted to strengthen our local supplier relationships and ensure Lidl NI was seen not just as a place for affordable shopping but as a trusted and valued part of Northern Ireland’s retail landscape,” said Ivan.
“What sets us apart is our combination of local sourcing, sustainability, price-value proposition, as well as our commitment to the communities we serve. We are proud to work with over 50 local suppliers – from Dale Farm, Moy Park, Crust & Crumb, WD Meats, Foyle Foods and more – supporting Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector,” he added.
‘Our focus is on ensuring that Lidl remains the top choice for value and quality in Northern Ireland’
The Northern Irish retail landscape is a competitive one for consumers with independent retailers, Symbol Groups, Multiples, and discounters all vying for customer spend and loyalty. While this creates a ‘buyers’ market’, it is also a critical opportunity for all retailers to highlight how they differ from their rivals.
“We operate in a competitive market and respect all of our rivals, however we don’t tend to look at one particular group as our main competitor,” said Ivan.
“Instead, our focus is on ensuring that Lidl remains the top choice for value and quality in Northern Ireland. What we offer – both in terms of product quality and affordability – transcends traditional retail boundaries and we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.”
Over the last 25 years, Lidl NI has enjoyed a period of fast-tracked growth, which continues today – not only in terms of their store footprint across the region – which will reach 50 stores by 2030 – but also in market share (now at over 9%) and year-on-year sales growth which sits at more than 35% over the last two years.
TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH IVAN RYAN IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER, CLICK HERE
