Lidl Set To Build Tens Of New Stores Along With Plus Network Revamping

05.26.2011 ZF English

Germany's Lidl, which has embarked upon the most aggressive expansion campaign in the Romanian retail market in the past three years, has added all the cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants on its list of priorities for store opening, namely almost 80 localities.

"Our interest is generally related to locations in cities with over 30,000 inhabitants," was one of the answers ZF received from the representatives of the German network, who just confirmed that the first Lidl-branded stores will be opened this year, without providing any details on the calendar or number of openings.

The Germans have bought all the plots of land they have built or are due to build the stores on.

When entering the domestic market, the retailer secured a solid position after taking over the Plus 100-discount store network.

In late 2010, with a network of 106 Plus stores, Lidl was the second largest store chain in Romania, after Penny Market. With the new openings, over 15, according to the data ZF got from city hall representatives or from their websites, Plus is likely to climb onto the top position.

Though the Competition Council approved the deal more than half a year ago, Lidl has not completed the rebranding of Plus stores and has not opened any store from scratch.

Early this year, Lidl officials said they had not closed any Plus stores after takeover because their goal was to open even more stores.