Lidl announces ambition to open 30 new supermarkets in Cheshire - here's where

Lidl has announced plans to open hundreds of stores across the UK — including 30 in Cheshire. The supermarket made the announcement Tuesday (April 30) that it is hoping to open 1,225 stores.

A wish-list of locations was shared by the supermarket chain, including new shops for Chester, Crewe, Macclesfield, Warrington, and Halton. According to Lidl, the supermarket has been the fastest expanding bricks-and-mortar supermarket for the past seven months.

Lidl is also offering a 'finders' fee' to those who successfully identify a new site. Lidl says it will pay a finders’ fee of either 1.5 per cent of the total freehold purchase price, or 10 per cent of the first year’s rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.

Lidl said it is specifically looking for sites in prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow, with 1.5+ acres for a standalone store and up to four acres for mixed-use schemes. Sites should allow for unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and over 100 dedicated car parking spaces, and Lidl’s flexible approach means it will consider freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities.

Richard Taylor, Lidl GB Chief Development Officer, commented: “Having fortified our infrastructure with significant investments like Luton, which is the largest warehouse in the Lidl world, we're proud to have achieved record market share this month. We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row. With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we’re welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.

“As we celebrate our 30th year, our commitment to ensuring that all households across the country have access to high quality produce at affordable prices is stronger than ever. We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential. This is why we’re continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion. As we look ahead, we’re excited to welcome even more new shoppers to our existing stores, as well as those we’re planning to open across the country in the coming months and years.”

Full list of proposed Cheshire locations

• Chester - Broughton
  

• Chester - East

• Chester - North

• Chester - South

• Ellesmere Port - North

• Ellesmere Port - South

• Crewe - North
  

• Crewe - South

• Neston
  

• Macclesfield - North
  

• Macclesfield - South

• Frodsham/Helsby

• Congleton

• Handforth

• Holmes Chapel

• Knutsford

• Middlewich

• Nantwich

• Poynton

• Sandbach

• Wilmslow

• Runcorn

• Warrington - East

• Warrington - North

• Warrington - South

• Widnes - Central

• Widnes - North

• Widnes - South

• Winsford

• Alsager

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