The retailer, which has opened 41 stores in the north since 1999, is altering its location strategy, which will eventually see it open in towns with smaller populations.

Lidl’s location expansion will be run alongside its ongoing store replacement programme, which has already seen 18 of its northern stores modernised. The 19th replacement store is set to open in Omagh on October 13.

Lidl has previously announced its medium-term target of achieving 50 stores in Northern Ireland by 2030, but property director Chris Speers told the Irish News the company’s longer term strategy is now for 66 locations.

Ideally, he said the retailer would like to complete six projects each year, including two brand new location stores.

However, that will very much depend on the planning process and availability of suitable sites.

Lidl has already tasked property firms CBRE and Lambert Smith Hampton with helping it locate new sites as part of the goal of opening in 25 new locations.

“The aim is to bring our market leading prices and quality to more communities in Northern Ireland,” said Mr Speers.

“We generally work in catchments, both urban and rural hinterlands, of around 20,000 plus people. And there’s still many of those 25 stores within that category.

“But there’s also now a willingness to look at smaller catchments of around 15,000 plus, which brings in a lot of new towns we hadn’t considered in years gone by, as we were prioritising the bigger catchments.”

Since opening its first store in Cookstown in 1999, Lidl has established itself as the north’s fastest growing retailer, employing 1,100 people across 41 stores and a major distribution hub at Nutts Corner.

It’s understood Bangor and south Belfast are high on Lidl’s target areas. The retailer is expected to secure planning permission on a new Boucher Road outlet in the coming weeks.

It will be Lidl’s first in south Belfast, but it’s unlikely to be its last.

“South Belfast has been underrepresented by Lidl for a number of years,” said Mr Speers.

“There’s probably two or three further expansion opportunities in south Belfast.”

The broader location policy could also eventually see Lidl pop up in towns like Kilkeel and Ballycastle. It’s also examining a potential third store in Derry city.

As well as looking in smaller catchment areas, Lidl has also adapted its store strategy to take on units which don’t necessarily fit within its traditional format.

“The format of our stores, the locations and types of sites that we’ve looked at has evolved a fair bit,” said the property director.

“We’re being more agile, more flexible when it comes to the model of the building we use or the location.”

Chris Speers said the company had been spending between £12 million to £15m per year on store development around five years ago. It’s on course to triple that spend next year. That in turn will create more jobs in both construction, retail and the food supply chain.

The post Lidl to target smaller towns under plans for 25 new stores in Northern Ireland first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The highly anticipated new store opened on 15 September following a significant construction project to relocate its former store at the junction of Castlereagh and Montgomery Road to larger premises located in an adjacent site on Castlereagh Road, next to Lynas Food Outlet.

Occupying a much larger area of 11,575 sq. metres, with an impressive 1,420 sq. metre sales floor, the dramatically transformed new store was unveiled last week, offering customers more space to shop an expanded product range, with additional product lines complementing the retailer’s existing range which promises to be ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’.

Shoppers can also now enjoy a bright, modern and spacious facility built to the retailer’s established concept design which prioritises sustainability, spacious, wide aisles, long tills, restrooms, staff and baby-changing facilities.

The new store also incorporates glass-fronted glazing, landscaping and improved access, and prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency with a range of environmentally-friendly features including a bespoke Energy Management System.

To mark the opening of the new Castlereagh Road store, Lidl Northern Ireland donated £1,000 in store vouchers to local schools Knockbreda Primary School and St. Bernard’s Primary School, as part of the retailer’s commitment to positively contributing to its local community.

Jonathan McConnell, Lidl Castlereagh Road Store Manager, said: “Our Castlereagh Road Store has been serving the east Belfast community for 20 years, so it’s a joy to welcome shoppers back through our doors after a short construction period to enjoy this brand-new, state-of-the-art store. As a retailer operating right in the heart of the community, we’re proud to deliver this significant store upgrade for our customers and I’m confident that they will love the new-look frontage and improved in-store facilities.

“With a significantly larger shop floor, locals can now shop a wider range of essential groceries and benefit from our Big on Quality, Lidl on Price proposition which has resonated so well with communities across the region, and even more so during these challenging times.

“I’m also thrilled to welcome ten permanent new staff to join our existing 25-strong team. It’s been a fantastic boost for the whole team to welcome new staff and move forward into a new phase of growth within a modern, sustainably-focused and customer-centric store. I’m excited for everyone to visit and I look forward to welcoming even more customers through our doors very soon.”

The new store opening at Castlereagh Road marks the completion of the fourth store delivered as part of a wider £32 million investment promise announced in 2021 to create five new stores within the Belfast City Region.

Last year, two new stores opened at Holywood Exchange and Hillview Retail Park, whilst Lidl’s Shore Road store opened in July this year. A fifth and final store is earmarked for development in at Boucher Road, adjacent to the iconic National Football Stadium at Windsor Park – the first Lidl store planned for south Belfast.

The string of new Belfast stores is just part of the retailer’s plan to dramatically enhance its service provision across Northern Ireland, with ambitions to expand its 41-strong store network to 50 by 2030.

Caption: Pictured at the opening of the new Castlereagh Road Lidl Northern Ireland Store is store manager Jonny McConnell and team

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Located in the heart of the bustling Boucher Road retail area beside the M1, and positioned in front of the National Football Stadium and Olympia Leisure Centre, the proposed new store will have a sales area of 1,425 sqm. The development, which sits on a site of 9,792 sqm, also includes a drive thru café, measuring 566 sqm.

With an anticipated opening date as early as next year, the new development will create up to 100 permanent retail jobs and support a further 200 jobs during the construction phase.

Planning permission was lodged this week with Belfast City Council for the new store which will be the retailer’s 42nd store in Northern Ireland and its ninth in the Belfast city area. The application follows a local consultation of the plans.

Construction plans reflect designs to build the new store to Lidl Northern Ireland’s established ‘concept’ design, which prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency. A modern fit-out provides a high-quality shopping experience, with wide aisles, longer till points, enhanced restrooms and employee facilities. The site will also include a 148-space car park, including electric vehicle charging points.

The company said the investment drive was part of a long-term plan to grow Lidl’s store network to 50 stores across the region and forms part of its announcement last year to commit £32 million to develop five new stores in the Greater Belfast region at Castlereagh Road, Crumlin Road, Boucher Road, Holywood Exchange and Shore Road.

Investment

Chris Speers, Regional Property Executive for Lidl Northern Ireland, said: “Since confirming a £32 million investment into the Greater Belfast region with five key sites late last year, we’re pleased to be delivering these projects at pace and with great success.

“We’ve opened two new stores at Holywood Exchange and Crumlin Road and I’m pleased to confirm we’re moving ahead with plans to relocate our existing store at Castlereagh Road to an adjacent site and to redevelop and expand our existing Shore Road store.

“Our fifth site at Boucher Road is a strategically-important location for us, expanding our reach into the south Belfast area for the first time and bringing a multi-million pound investment and new jobs to the local area. We’re excited to bring our award-winning Big on Quality, Lidl on Price proposition to thousands of new shoppers and to extend our presence across the city.

“A key commuter belt and prime retail shopping area, the new store at Boucher Road is well-positioned to serve local residents, shoppers, commuters and visitors alike, with the National Football Stadium positioned just behind the store serving as a major footfall driver. We’re also looking forward to creating a drive-thru café that will further enhance our offering.

“We’re pleased to have worked closely with councillors, key businesses and the wider community to bring these plans forward and we are grateful for the positive support we have received for these plans.”

With 41 stores across the region at present, Lidl Northern Ireland is also advancing plans to progress its £26 million investment into the North West region, with new stores planned at Strabane Shopping Centre in County Tyrone and two stores in Derry-Londonderry at Buncrana Road and Crescent Link shopping centre.

Confirmed as Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket by Kantar, with more than 12% year-on-year sales growth in 2021, the retailer contributes around £180 million a year to the local economy, sustaining 3,500 jobs while buying and exporting as much as £290 million worth of local goods and products.

The company employs more than 1,100 staff across its 41-strong store network and Regional Distribution Centre in Nutt’s Corner, Co. Antrim, and recently announced its recruitment of an additional 170 employees this year.

For more information visit www.lidl-ni.co.uk

The post Lidl NI lodges plans for a new £6m store in south Belfast first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The new restaurant at Balmoral Plaza Retail Plaza opened its doors at 7am this morning, and offered free drinks for a year worth £3,100 to the first customer in the queue.

Meanwhile, the first 100 customers were treated to a free breakfast meal.

The new restaurant and drive thru opens from 6am to midnight seven days a week, offering bestselling treats like the iconic Tim Horton’s Timbits, Ice Capps, Freshly Baked Donuts and Tims Crispy Chicken Sandwich as well as dinner favourites including beef burgers, hot dogs, and lattice fries.

The company is running a series of giveaways including free drinks and donuts for those who activate their Tim Hortons’ digital wallet.

A spokesman said the venue was opening in time for those around the Boucher Road area to get their hands on its limited-edition festive menu, including its brand-new Snowball Surprise Deluxe Donut, Christmas Crispy Chicken and back by popular demand, its Rudolph the Reindeer Donut.

“The drinks menu will also delight guests with Orange or White Hot Chocolate, Salted Caramel Latte and Gingerbread Latte all available for a limited time only,” he said.

Kevin Hydes, Chief Commercial Officer of Tim Hortons UK franchise, said they couldn’t wait to open the doors in another part of the vibrant city of Belfast.

“Belfast has a great community that is frequently on the move, and our Boucher Road venue will make our offering more accessible to shoppers, university students, sports fans and those in and around the area,” he said.

“We are well known for our launch giveaways, with people travelling long distances and queuing overnight to claim our top prize and we always look forward to sharing these with our worthy winners.

“With Christmas around the corner, there are bound to be lots of guests in the area and we cannot wait to welcome them down from 7am, throughout the day.”

Caption: Kevin Hydes, Chief Commercial Officer of Tim Hortons UK franchise, joins staff to launch the new branch at Belfast’s Boucher Road

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