Lidl Northern Ireland, the region’s fastest-growing supermarket retailer, received planning approval last year from Belfast City Council following an extensive public consultation to replace the existing store and add more space as part of a new, bright and modern design that promotes sustainability and an enhanced customer shopping experience.

The existing store will remain open to customers as initial building works progress to extend to the rear of the site. The final phase of works will see the store temporarily close in early August to facilitate the demolition and rebuild of the new, state-of-the-art store. Local shoppers will be warmly accommodated at the nearby Lidl Andersonstown Road store during the temporary closure, with customers notified in advance.

This major local investment will add 20 new jobs to Lidl Northern Ireland’s established local team of 20 in West Belfast when it opens later this year, with over 100 construction jobs supported during the new build phase.

MODERN SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Welcoming the start of construction work at Stewartstown Road, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Regional Managing Director Ivan Ryan said: “Our Stewartstown Road store was one of the first to open in the region so it’s only fitting that, in our milestone 25^th anniversary year, we’re progressing construction of a modern new store for our valued local customers.”

Located next to a busy retail complex and serving a thriving community, the store’s transformation will positively impact the area, with new landscaped pathways providing improved accessibility to the store as well as a modern shopping experience that brings real choice and value to shoppers every day.

“As we break ground on the new store, we are working closely with our contractor to carefully plan construction to best meet the needs of the local community, ensuring that the existing Stewartstown Road store can remain open for as long as possible as works progress,” added Ivan Ryan.

“This is a highly anticipated project and we have liaised extensively with local representatives and the wider community to realise this significant investment. When completed, the new Stewartstown Road store will represent an outstanding addition to the local area, and we look forward to unveiling the new-look store later this year.”

SUSTAINABLE STORE

The new store will include a larger sales area of 1670 sq. m with 150 parking spaces including six dedicated accessible bays and six parent and child bays. In line with Lidl Northern Ireland’s newest stores, Stewartstown Road will also feature an in-house bakery, wider aisles and longer, more spacious checkout areas, customer bathroom and employee welfare facilities.

When opened, the Stewartstown store will also be one of the most sustainable in the region, with LED lighting, heat pumps and PV solar panels reducing carbon emissions and will include an onsite pollinator garden encouraging biodiversity.

Committed to the area, Lidl Northern Ireland has for many years made significant investments in a variety of community initiatives and in facilities designed to further participation in sport, promoting health and wellbeing for people of all ages.

This latest construction start marks an expansion milestone for Lidl Northern Ireland in the Greater Belfast area. In February, it started work on its first store in South Belfast at Boucher Road, adding to its existing Belfast city-wide network which includes Castlereagh Road, Crumlin Road, Holywood Exchange and Connswater. It also has stores on Shore Road and in Dundonald.

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Lidl Northern Ireland has invested £6 million in pay rises for employees in the region with employees benefitting from a 13.5% increase since February 2023. This latest investment will result in every Lidl employee in the region benefitting from an approximate 6% pay rise, equal to, on average, £1,300 additional for every employee per annum.

Commenting on the announcement, Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said: “Navigating the changing face of retail against the backdrop of rising cost-of-living, climate crisis and the impact of global geo-political events has been no easy feat, which is why now more than ever it is vital for us to continue to prioritise our people – an investment we will never compromise on.

“We have a strong commitment to our customers to offer them the best value in the market and our people are key for us to deliver on that promise. We are proud to reward the hard work and dedication of our employees by investing an additional £3 million in pay rises impacting every employee in the business making Lidl the highest paying supermarket in Northern Ireland.”

Lidl Northern Ireland employs more than 1,300 people across its 41-strong store network and regional distribution centre in Nutts Corner. Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket is marking 25 years of growth in the region this year, with several new stores in the pipeline and a growing network of local suppliers.

Backed by its successful ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ proposition, Lidl Northern Ireland plans to open new stores this year at Boucher Road in Belfast, in Carryduff and in Cookstown where its journey began in 1999. Other stores planned include Bangor, Craigavon, Dungannon, Coleraine and Newcastle.

For the fourth year running, Lidl Northern Ireland has been recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer for 2023. Lidl is the only retailer to receive the accreditation in the region. The Top Employer accreditation is a globally recognised and highly sought-after certification, held by international brands such as Heineken, Puma, and PepsiCo. It showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work, exhibited through excellent HR policies and people practices.

For more information on the roles available and Lidl Northern Ireland, and to apply, visit https://jobs.lidl-ni.co.uk/

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Located in the heart of the busy Boucher Road retail area, positioned to the front of the National Football Stadium and Olympia Leisure Centre, the new store will provide local residents and businesses in the south Belfast area, as well as visitors to the bustling retail destination, with access to Lidl’s established ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ brand proposition for the first time.

Lidl Northern Ireland’s newest state-of-the-art ‘concept’ store will add an extra 40 permanent jobs to its regional 1,300-strong workforce. Up to 120 temporary jobs will also be supported during the development phase with contractors Ganson UK breaking ground to develop the 2,288 sqm retail unit.

Positioned on derelict land at Windsor Way to the left of Olympia Leisure Centre, the refurbished site will also include an adjacent 148-space customer car park, complete with EV charging stations, redeveloping land in front of Olympia’s football pitches.

Planning permission for the new store – its 10th within the Greater Belfast area – was approved by Belfast City Council last year and will bring its total Northern Ireland store count to 43 by the end of 2024, now that construction work is also under way on the new £6.5 million store that will anchor Carryduff Shopping Centre.

Around 35 permanent jobs will be created in Carryduff when the store is completed later this year – on top of 120 construction jobs over the next six months.

The announcement marks a new drive for Lidl Northern Ireland in delivering on its ambitious plans to open 50 stores across the region by the end of the decade, whilst also investing in upgrading its existing store network.

Earlier this month, Lidl Northern Ireland announced it has submitted planning applications to position new stores at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon and adjacent to Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor. Both will replace longstanding nearby outlets with all-new, brighter, larger and modern retail outlets.

Lidl Northern Ireland Managing Director Ivan Ryan said: “We’re delighted to kick off 2024 with a number of key expansion projects and are quickly advancing our plans for our first store in south Belfast.

“This new store on Boucher Road will bring major investment to the locality and will create new jobs and bring real choice, quality and the best value to residents and visitors to this part of the city.”

Built to exacting standards, the new Lidl Northern Ireland store at Boucher Road will reflect the retailer’s established ‘concept’ design, which prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency. A modern fit-out will provide high-quality shopping experience, with wide aisles, an in-store bakery, longer till points, enhanced restrooms and employee facilities.

Lidl Northern Ireland said that its new Carryduff store would boast similar features that include a 1,420 sq. metre sales floor and parking for more than 200 vehicles.

Established in 1999 when it opened its first store in Cookstown, Lidl Northern Ireland marks 25 years in the region this year. It now holds a 9.1% market share in Northern Ireland, and has seen the strongest growth amongst all retailers, up 21.3% year-on-year, according to retail information analysts Kantar.

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Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing grocery retailer confirmed it has submitted planning applications to position new stores at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon and adjacent to Bloomfield Shopping Centre in Bangor. Both will replace longstanding nearby outlets with all-new, brighter, larger, and modern retail outlets with sustainability built in.

It has also submitted a planning application for a new supermarket and café at Anne Street in Dungannon, replacing its Scotch Street store, on a prominent site which has been derelict for almost four decades.

Combined, the three store builds represent a significant multi-million-pound investment and will support hundreds of jobs during development and construction phases in addition to more than 50 more retail jobs created when all three outlets open. Existing stores in all three areas already employ over 60 employees, all of whom will relocate on completion.

Subject to planning permission by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Mid Ulster Council, the stores will open next year.

EXPANSION

The proposed new store at the south end of Rushmere Shopping Centre, replacing its existing outlet at Northway, will see the creation of a 2,470 sq. m unit at the former petrol station site, including an expansive 1,650 sq. m sales floor with almost 20 new jobs added to an existing team of over 20 employees.

In Bangor, a new supermarket is proposed at Skipperstone Road to the west of Bloomfield Road where its existing store is currently located. The site will see the new development of a brand new, state-of-the-art retail outlet complete with landscaping and new road access, providing an all-new and enhanced shopping experience for thousands of local weekly shoppers. It will create 20 new jobs, doubling its local workforce.

A new state-of-the-art store and café in Dungannon will also double its local team to 40 employees.

Lidl Northern Ireland Property Director, Chris Speers, said: “Welcoming more than a half a million shoppers through our store network each week, we continue to prioritise delivering the best shopping experience for our customers.

“Alongside our ambitious expansion plans in the region, we are focused on upgrading our existing store network to bring older stores in line with our industry leading, sustainably focused ‘Concept’ design.

“I am delighted to confirm new plans to relocate and upgrade our stores in Bangor, Craigavon and Dungannon, where we have served local communities for more than two decades. These proposed new stores are important for us, and we hope that new and existing customers are as excited as we are by our plans for significant local investment in our local communities.”

Celebrating 25 years of growth and expansion in the region later this year, Lidl Northern Ireland is investing millions of pounds in the development and growth of its 41-strong store network.

Lidl Northern Ireland was also recently granted planning for a new ‘Concept’ store in Coleraine on the site of its existing Riverside Retail Park outlet and work on a new supermarket retail unit at Carryduff Shopping Centre, anchoring a wider redevelopment, is already progressing.

‘LANDMARK YEAR’

Plans to replace its first store in Northern Ireland, in Cookstown, with a new £7 million retail unit, which will be home to an expanded team of 40, were submitted late last year and welcomed by local councillors at Mid Ulster District Council.

It also opened a flagship new £8 million store at Strabane Retail Park in December.

Ivan Ryan, Regional Managing Director at Lidl Northern Ireland, said: “As we mark our landmark 25^th year in Northern Ireland, we are firmly focused on expanding and enhancing our growing local store network.

“Since 2018, Lidl Northern Ireland has consistently been the region’s fastest-growing supermarket, so it’s clear to see that our established ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ proposition is resonating with even more shoppers.”

Earlier this year, Lidl Northern Ireland, confirmed a price drop for more than 500 products within its everyday range, further underscoring the retailer’s commitment to driving real value and to supporting local shoppers mitigating against cost-of-living impacts.

“Committed to providing the best quality produce at the best value, our goal is to make it easier for new and existing customers to access great local value and choice wherever they are. Our plans for upgraded new stores in Bangor, Craigavon and Dungannon will better meet the needs of a growing customer base in these areas and cements our long-term commitment to serving and investing in local communities.”

Public consultations on all three new stores get underway in the next few weeks in existing retail outlets. The first is in Dungannon on Tuesday 13^th February from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, in Bangor on Tuesday 19^th March at 4.30pm to 6.30pm and in Craigavon on Monday 8^th April from 3pm to 6pm.

Lidl Northern Ireland, which employs more than 1,300 people across its 41-strong store network and regional distribution centre in Nutts Corner, is the region’s fastest-growing retail grocer, according to retail information company Kantar. It now holds a 9.1% market share in the region after seeing the strongest growth among all retailers, up 21.3% year-on-year.

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Backed by popular local broadcaster and singer Hugo Duncan, who will join Lidl Northern Ireland’s local teams to kick off the official opening celebrations on Thursday 7^th December, the new store forms part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s longstanding commitment to drive a £26 million investment in the Northwest, create new jobs and support more local suppliers.

Its new store at Branch Road will also act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Strabane Retail Park – a key component in advancing its vision and plans for the site while bringing even more quality, value and choice for local shoppers in a bright, modern ‘Concept’ building that prioritises sustainability.

Construction of the new sustainable, solar-powered store got underway earlier this year and supported over 150 jobs during the development phase. The store sits within a site of around 2,100 sq. metres and boasts a giant-sized sales floor of 1,420 sq. metres.

‘COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMERS’

Lidl Northern Ireland Regional Managing Director, Ivan Ryan said: “Our newest store in Strabane underscores our commitment to our customers, our employees and the whole community to deliver even greater choice and real value while continuing to strategically invest for the future, unlock growth and drive potential.

“We’re excited to be further expanding our ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ offering and we’d like to thank everyone for continuing to support us in our plans. We look forward to welcoming our customers to our new state-of-the-art store from 7^th December to discover our award-winning range at best-value prices as the countdown to Christmas gets underway.”

The new Strabane store reflects Lidl Northern Ireland’s bright, modern and spacious design concept, incorporating wider aisles, long tills, restrooms and baby-changing facilities as well as an in-store bakery and redeveloped parking for 130 vehicles.

‘Our newest store in Strabane underscores our commitment to our customers, our employees and the whole community’

The launch event will include an appearance from Hugo Duncan and his band Country Harmony, which will officially open the store and welcome the first customers through the door. The new Lidl Northern Ireland store at Strabane Retail Park will open on Thursday 7 December at 8am.

Earlier this year, Lidl Northern Ireland confirmed it had ploughed a record £4 million into the Derry City and Strabane District Council agri-food sector in the last financial year ending February 2023. It also employs more than 70 people across two stores in area.

The new store opening is part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s long-term plan to grow its store network to 50 by 2030 and bring its ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ proposition to more shoppers across the region.

Confirmed as Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket by Kantar, Lidl Northern Ireland now holds 9.2% market share in the region after seeing the strongest growth amongst all retailers, up 25.7% year-on-year.

The company employs more than 1,300 employees across its 41-strong store network and Regional Distribution Centre in Nutt’s Corner, Co. Antrim.

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