Lidl opens Boucher Road store with 40 new jobs

Supermarket Lidl has opened its first store in South Belfast with the creation of 40 new jobs.

The move is part of an ambitious expansion plan by the retailer which will add to its 1,300-strong Northern Ireland workforce.

Based on the Boucher Road, the store is Lidl’s tenth in the Greater Belfast area and is positioned in front of the National Football Stadium and Olympia Leisure Centre.

The refurbished site includes an adjacent 148-space customer car park, complete with electric vehicle charging stations, and redevelops a derelict site.

Lidl Northern Ireland Managing Director Ivan Ryan welcomed the supermarket’s first move into south Belfast.

“This has been a highly anticipated project and we knew we would have a lot of interest in the new store, but we’ve been blown away by the number of customers visiting us this morning, and the positive response from both new and existing Lidl shoppers,” he said. “The opening of Boucher Road – our 42nd store in the region – reflects our commitment to creating new jobs and investment across the region.

“Realising this new store has been a priority for Lidl Northern Ireland and I’d like to thank local residents and businesses for their ongoing support and for the warm welcome they have given us this morning.”

Founded in Germany, Lidl opened its first store in Northern Ireland in 1999 in Cookstown

Established in 1999 when it opened its first store in Cookstown, Lidl Northern Ireland marks 25 years in the region this year. The retailer said it holds a 9.2% market share in Northern Ireland, according to retail information analysts Kantar.

Olympic gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan, Lidl’s Sport for Good ambassador, opened the store.

“It’s been an incredible morning, meeting the crowds of people who have come along to join us in celebrating the opening of the first Lidl store in South Belfast,” he said. “As Lidl Northern Ireland has supported me along my journey to Olympic success, I am proud to be here supporting the Boucher Road team this morning, as they welcome new and existing shoppers to this impressive new store.”