Lidl GB will open 19 UK stores over eight weeks and invest £43 million in refurbishing more than 70 sites, the company said.

The expansion, which equates to roughly one opening every other day, will create up to 640 new roles nationwide, according to the company. New branches will include locations such as Calne in Wiltshire and Brough in Yorkshire, alongside London sites in Stamford Hill and Walworth Road. The discounter said opening-day activity will feature complimentary food sampling and prize promotions.

The refurbishment programme stretches from Dundee to the Isle of Wight and will deliver new tills, larger freezer capacity and a broader product range, according to the company. Lidl said modernisation will also add energy-saving features including chillers that use natural refrigerants and smart lighting systems designed to reduce electricity consumption, supporting its journey toward Net Zero.

“We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve,” Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, said.

“With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market,” Taylor said.

The plans follow the opening of Lidl’s 1,000th store in Great Britain and come as the retailer strengthens its position as the UK’s fastest-growing bricks-and-mortar operator, according to Worldpanel by Numerator for the 52 weeks ending 28 December 2025. Lidl said it now reaches over 60 per cent of British households and contributed £14.5 billion in gross value added to the British economy in FY24.

Lidl added that the growth will bring wider community benefits through what it calls “the Lidl Effect”. The company said new stores will support local causes from the outset, and its surplus food donation scheme, Feed it Back – delivered with charity partner Neighbourly – provided 18.5 million meals in 2025, supporting 6.8 million people across Great Britain.

Store openings highlighted by the company include Basildon (Laindon), Birmingham (Kingstanding), Chester (Caldy Valley Road), Hereford (Belmont Road), Hucknall (Watnall Road), Reading (Tilehurst), Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury (Churchill Way West), Sandford, Sutton High Street and Tring.

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