Budget supermarket Lidl is inviting the public to help locate potential new store locations across the UK. They have identified over 1,000 possible sites spanning from Scotland to Cornwall, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Despite having their own property teams and agents nationwide, Lidl is seeking assistance from shoppers in pinpointing suitable locations. As an incentive, the retailer is offering a finder’s fee for discovering a site that leads to a new store, amounting to 1.5% of the freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s leasehold rent.
In 2022, reports indicated that finding a site worth £1.5 million could result in a finder’s fee of up to £22,500. Lidl declined to disclose specifics on individuals or partners involved in these introductions due to commercial sensitivity.
While Lidl has ambitious plans for new stores and relocations, the actual opening of most sites may not occur in the near future. With over 1,000 stores already in the UK, Lidl aims to expand further by adding more than 50 stores within the next year as part of a £600 million expansion plan.
The company’s brochure outlines various potential locations for new stores, including regions such as Scotland, North East England, Yorkshire and Humber, Manchester, North Wales, Merseyside, and many more. Richard Taylor, Lidl GB’s chief real estate officer, emphasized the commitment to providing quality products, creating job opportunities, supporting local suppliers, and contributing to community causes through their stores.
