Lidl starts construction of Bulgarian outlets

German retailer will start building a pilot outlet in the city of Lovech, Northern Bulgaria, the company said. Work on a further five outlets will begin by the end of 2008, folowed shortly by the start of construction of five more Lidl stores.

 The discount-segment retailer hopes to
have 10-12 open outlets in Bulgaria by 2010.

The company will also invest in a
distribution center, the land for which has already been bought,
although the company is yet to disclose its location.

Lidl is part of Schwarz
Unternehmensgruppe, which already has stepped on the Bulgarian market
though the Kaufland chain.

Market researchers said that discount
retailers are expected to own four percent of the Bulgarian grocery
market. Penny Market and Plus are two discount retailers that will
enter the Bulgarian market in the near future.