The British arm of German discount supermarket Lidl plans to recruit over 1,500 distribution centre workers to support its aggressive store expansion across the country, it said on Tuesday.
Lidl GB, part of the Schwarz retail group, currently trades from over 960 stores in Britain and has a target of over 1,100.
The stores are serviced by a network of 13 regional distribution centres.
Lidl GB also said it has submitted plans for a new distribution centre in Leeds, northern England, which if approved would create a further 400 jobs.
Lidl GB and discount rival Aldi UK are Britain's fastest growing grocers, both achieving record market shares over the 12 weeks to April 16 of 7.6% and 10.1% respectively, according to industry data.
UK Food Businesses
On the 30 January the discounter said that it would invest £4 billion ($5 billion) in UK food businesses in 2023, as it accelerates its spending plans.
In 2019, Lidl GB committed to a £15 billion investment in the UK food industry from 2020 to 2025.
The new figure is expected to hit £17 billion.
Lidl GB says it sources two-thirds of its core products from the UK, working with over 650 suppliers across the country.
Currently trading from 950 stores it plans 1,100 by 2025, the company noted.
'A Very Modest Return'
Lidl GB's 2021-22 profit of £41.1 million ($49 million) on revenue of £7.8 billion is 'a very modest return', but the company is focused on the long term, its boss said in November.
"We've been relentless in the investment in infrastructure and really laying foundations for future growth," Ryan McDonnell, CEO told Reuters after the results were published.
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