Update: Grocer Lidl makes more moves in Delaware

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Work is under way on a Lidl store in Middletown. (Sharon Rainey photo)
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German supermarket chain Lidl has opened its first stores in Virginia and the Carolinas with other locations to follow in Delaware and Maryland.

The company has built distribution centers in Virginia, North Carolina and in western  Cecil County, MD, west of the Delaware line. Cost of the Cecil distribution center is estimated at $100 million. 

Last month  Georgia governor’s office announced the company will build a $100 million distribution center and a regional office in that state.Previous reports have indicated that the company was scouting store sites in Georgia. 

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A company spokesman said no opening date has been announced for new stores beyond those previously announced. (See list below).

A building that is expected to be the chain’s first store in Delaware, is going up off Route 301, next to the Grotto Pizza location and near Walmart and Aldi stores.

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Approval has been received for a site in Millsboro in Sussex County and bids were sought earlier this year for a location in Elkton, MD. The company has also been active in the Dover area scouted a site south of Newark.  [Not a valid template]

 

Lidl is a rival to German-based  Aldi, which has grown to nearly 2,000 stores since its launch in the U.S. in the 1970s. 

Aldi operates separately from upscale discounter Trader Joe’s, which has about 450 stores, including a location in north Wilmington. Branches of the German family own the two retailers. 

Aldi entered Delaware last year with stores in Camden and Middletown.

Both Aldi and Lidl feature discount prices, lean staffing, small store sizes and many private label products. Lidl will feature fresh-baked goods and a wide variety of cheeses, as well as non-food items that can include fitness gear and outdoor furniture. 

The average Lidl has about 20,000 to 35,000  square feet, with private label brands comprising most of the store’s offerings. 

Both Aldi and Lidl see a chance to get a bigger foothold in the turbulent U.S. market.  

A big target is Walmart, which is now the nation’s  largest grocery retailer. Aldi has placed its stores in the region near Walmarts, emphasizing its convenience and discount pricing for produce and other items. 

The market has also been shaken by the announced acquisition of Whole Foods by Amazon.

Lidl stores to open this summer: 

City, State

Address

Kinston, NC

4050 W Vernon Ave

Greenville, NC

1800 East Fire Tower Rd

Wilson, NC

3520 Raleigh Rd Parkway West

Sanford, NC

3209 NC 87 South

Rocky Mount, NC

940 N Wesleyan Blvd

Winston-Salem, NC

3315 Sides Branch Rd

Havelock, NC

547 US Hwy 70 West

Rockingham, NC

705 US 74 Business East

Wake Forest, NC

1120 South Main St

Spartanburg, SC

8180 Warren H Abernathy Hwy

Greenville, SC

2037 Wade Hampton Boulevard

Virginia Beach, VA

6196 Providence Rd

Hampton, VA

2000 W Mercury Blvd

Culpeper, VA

15169 Brandy Road

Chesapeake, VA

4033 Portsmouth Blvd

Norfolk, VA

6440 N Military Hwy

Newport News, VA

11076 Warwick Blvd

Richmond, VA

12151 W. Broad St

North Chesterfield, VA

1311 Mall Drive

Richmond, VA

 

5110 S Laburnum Ave

 

Lidl operates about 10,000 stores in 27 countries throughout Europe. Lidl first established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia in June 2015

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