Lidl adds stores and premium products in UK

The discount chain is extending its product range to 2,000 SKUs and now includes a new deluxe premium range.

Lidl plans to add 50 stores in the UK
this year, one more than last year. Part of that expansion will come
through the purchase of stores from other retailers. The discounter
will be using a smaller store format to enter more urban areas. It
has opened ten smaller stores with a footprint of 200 to 500 square
meters and another ten stores are planned for 2009.
The other
major discounter in the UK, Aldi, is also reporting strong sales
gains. Sales at Aldi UK for 2008 were up 25% to 2.15 billion pounds,
while the number of its stores increased from 416 to 457 last year.