Lidl to open 19 new UK stores in eight weeks

Lidl says it will open 19 new stores across the UK over the next eight weeks and expects the programme to create up to 640 jobs while investing £40 million to modernise more than 70 existing stores.

Lidl is set to open 19 stores across the UK over the next eight weeks as part of an ongoing expansion that the company says will create jobs and broaden its presence. The German-owned chain opened its 1,000th UK store in November last year and has said it is "on track" to open hundreds more outlets nationwide. Lidl also announced an investment of £40 million to modernise more than 70 existing stores, including new tills and larger freezers. The company reported a 7.9% sales increase to £11.7 billion for the year to February 28 and said profits surged in October. Key details: - Lidl will open 19 stores across the UK over the next eight weeks. - The chain reached 1,000 UK stores in November and says it plans to open hundreds more. - The eight-week programme is reported to create up to 640 roles nationwide. - Lidl is investing £40 million to upgrade more than 70 existing stores. - The company reports an 8.2% UK market share and says it aims to add about 40 more sites in the year to February 28. - Sales rose 7.9% to £11.7 billion for the year to February 28, and profits were reported to have surged earlier in the period. Summary: Lidl’s planned openings will expand its footprint into new parts of the UK, with locations named including Calne in Wiltshire and Brough in Yorkshire. Exact opening dates for the listed stores have not been confirmed and media outlets have asked Lidl for those details. The company frames the push as part of a broader growth plan that includes further site additions and store modernisations. Undetermined at this time.