Behind this seasonal staple is a £7 million supply contract between Lidl Northern Ireland and Belfast’s own Hovis bakery, a partnership that has brought local baking to the breakfast tables of Lidl shoppers in Northern Ireland for more than 25 years.

Having supplied the retailer since it opened its very first store in 1999, Hovis is a cornerstone of Lidl Northern Ireland’s local supply chain. This Easter, the Hovis team at Apollo Road in South Belfast is producing two types of the seasonal classic hot cross buns which will be available in all 44 stores across the region: the premium Deluxe Hot Cross Buns [£1.39], crafted with real butter and 30% fruit content, and the family favourite private label Connell Bakery Hot Cross Buns [£0.99].

Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “Hot cross buns are a seasonal staple in many households across Northern Ireland and we are proud to meet that demand through our long-standing relationship with Belfast’s own Hovis.

“This £7 million contract reflects our ongoing commitment to prioritising local sourcing and our significant spend within the local agri-food industry. Having worked with Hovis since our first store opened in 1999, we value the heritage and quality they bring to our shelves, ensuring our customers can enjoy the very best homemade produce at market-leading value.”

COMMITMENT TO LOCAL SUPPLIERS

Trevor McCrum, General Manager at Hovis Ireland added: “As a Belfast-based bakery with over 150 years of history, we take great pride in seeing our hot cross buns at the center of Easter celebrations across the country.

“Our longstanding relationship with Lidl Northern Ireland provides a key platform for our business, delivering scale while staying true to our local roots. We are delighted to continue delivering high-quality, Belfast-baked favorites to Lidl shoppers for another busy Easter season.”

Lidl Northern Ireland’s commitment to investing in local suppliers is demonstrated in its latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report, released in November 2025, which revealed that the retailer procured a record £557 million in goods and services from local suppliers and business partners in Northern Ireland in the last financial year alone, with £413 million worth of NI goods exported to Lidl stores across the globe.

Alongside established partners like Hovis, Lidl also champions emerging local producers through its Kickstart Supplier Development Programme. Now in its ninth year, Kickstart has seen Lidl invest more than £4 million into showcasing innovative homegrown products, acting as a springboard for numerous local success stories including Holmes Bakery, Hellbent, and Slumber Jack Coffee.

The post Lidl Northern Ireland and Hovis celebrate partnership first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

CBRE NI has been appointed to oversee the sale of the prime retail property located in Coleraine’s highly sought-after Riverside Retail Park.

The unit has become available following Lidl’s relocation within the retail park and is now ready for immediate occupation. CBRE NI is inviting offers in the region of £1,200,000 for the property.

Strategically positioned in one of Coleraine’s most prominent shopping destinations, the property benefits from excellent visibility and accessibility. Its appeal is further enhanced by the nearby Ulster University campus, which currently accommodates approximately 6,000 students.

Stephen Smith, Associate Director at CBRE NI said: “Northern Ireland’s retail sector is expected to grow throughout 2025, with this performance being boosted by the availability of prime properties including the former Lidl store at Riverside Retail Park.

“With its excellent location, strong footfall, and adaptable space, we anticipate significant interest from potential occupiers.”

The property holds an EPC rating of D-79 and offers 10,000 sq ft of bulky goods space along with 8,270 sq ft of B4 storage and distribution space, providing flexible and versatile options for potential occupiers.

Further information about the property can be found at www.cbreni.com.

Interested parties are invited to contact Stephen Smith, Associate Director at CBRE Northern Ireland, for further information: stephen.smith@cbreni.com

The post Former Lidl building in Coleraine retail park goes on market first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

In an announcement on their social media, the retailer said that given the red weather warning in place right across Ireland, they had taken the decision to close their stores for the day.

They added that stores will plan to reopen one hour after weather warnings lift in local areas, but only if safe to do so.

“Customers are advised to check latest weather warning information for their local area,” they added.

The retailer was commended on social media for their decision, with many praising them for putting their staff safety to the fore.

The post Lidl closes stores amidst Storm Éowyn weather warnings first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The 26-year-old was charged with burglary with intent to steal and two counts of criminal damage.

The incident happened during the early hours of Monday 20^th January at the store, located in the Kitchen Hill area of the town.

Police received a report that at approximately 4.30am, the front entrance door of the shop had been smashed. The suspect continued to then smash the glass of a second internal door using a brick and a fire extinguisher, before entering the premises.

When police arrived, the suspect was located by officers in the nearby Kitchen Road area.

The man appeared before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 21^st January.

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

A spokesperson for Lidl told NR: “We can confirm that our Lurgan store was closed temporarily for a few hours yesterday morning, Monday 20^th January due to an incident in the store.

“Thankfully, all of our employees are safe and well and the store has since reopened. We are working collaboratively with PSNI on their ongoing investigation into the matter.”

The post Court appearance for suspect in Lidl store burglary first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The incident happened during the early hours of Monday 20^th January at the store located in the Kitchen Hill area of the town.

Police received a report that at approximately 4.30am the front entrance door of the shop had been smashed. The suspect continued to then smash the glass of a second internal door using a brick and a fire extinguisher, before entering the premises.

Inspector Campbell said that when police attended the 26-year-old male suspect was located by officers in the nearby Kitchen Road area.

“He was arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage and remains in custody at present as enquiries continue.

“We would appeal to anyone with any information, CCTV or dash-cam footage of what happened to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 157 20/01/25.”

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

The post Man arrested after breaking into Lidl store in Lurgan first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.