In response to a statement issued by Lidl Ireland this morning, whereby it described Tesco Ireland and RGDATA as lodging 'vexatious objections' to their planning application for a new store at Knocknacarra, Co.Galway, RGDATA has issued further comment on the discount retailer's claims.
RGDATA, which is the representative association for over 4,000 independent family owned grocery shops, convenience stores, forecourt stores and supermarkets in Ireland outlined the following points in it's statement:
"Lidl has a self-serving agenda on this issue and is seeking to inhibit parties from exercising their rights under the independent planning process.
Fact - Lidl stores are a low employment model and employ less than a 1/4 of the headcount of independent retailers. They don't add to retail employment.
RGDATA does not represent Musgraves. It represents independent retailers including Centra and SuperValu retailers but many others beside.
Fact - no appeal lodged by RGDATA to An Bord Pleanála has ever been regarded by An Bord Pleanála as frivolous or vexatious. Lidl are wrong on this.
Fact - RGDATA has no involvement in planning issues concerning Tesco. RGDATA members compete vigorously with Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes and each other.
The reason that Lidl attracts so many objections is that they insist on building so many stores in places that directly represent a major threat to the vitality and viability of Irish towns and villages.
The fact that Lidl has been able to grow its market share in Ireland over a short period demonstrates that the planning system does not inhibit or frustrate competition."
Planning Permission Granted
In the statement that the German retailer issued this morning, it highlighted that it 'had received notification that Galway City Council has approved plans for a new Lidl store in Knocknacarra at the junction of Western Distributor Road and Bothar na Stiofan'.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
