Lidl announces workforce expansion to 2,400 as retailer plans 16 new Northern Ireland stores

Lidl has announced plans to open 16 new stores across Northern Ireland by 2032, expanding its workforce from approximately 1,400 to 2,400 employees as the supermarket chain strengthens its position in the regional grocery market.

AOL reported that the expansion is expected to add around £475 million (€555 million) each year to the local economy, according to a report commissioned by the retailer. The cost of building the 16 new stores is estimated at around £500 million (€585 million).

Lidl accounts for approximately 10% of the grocery market in Northern Ireland. The expansion plans mean there will be more than 60 stores across the region by 2032. As well as opening new locations in recent years, the retailer has been refurbishing or completely rebuilding existing shops.

Robert Ryan, chief executive of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said the company's ability to realise this impact is contingent entirely on the planning system. The company used the announcement to restate its criticisms of the challenges it faces in opening new stores.

Gordon Cruikshanks, Lidl regional managing director, said: "Rather than acting as an economic lever, these delays, inconsistencies and uncertainty in the system defer investment, reduce scale and limit the realisation of economic and social benefits."

The company has repeatedly voiced frustration at delays to a proposed store in the North West, an £8 million (€9.36 million) development which has been in the planning system for more than six years.

Cruikshanks said the company's ongoing challenges in Derry-Londonderry are particularly frustrating given that its sole existing store there records the highest footfall of the entire store network in Northern Ireland and one of the highest footfalls in the international Lidl store network.

Access complete details on the store expansion timeline and workforce development plans.