Lidl Ireland Announces €550 Million Investment in Irish Operations Over Next 3 Years

Lidl Ireland has today announced a €550 million investment in its Irish operations over the next 3 years, including the strategic development of 20 new stores and redevelopment of 24 more throughout the country. The announcement comes as Lidl unveils its Economic Contribution of Lidl in the Republic of Ireland report, commemorating 20 years of operating in the region. Independently conducted by Oxford Economics, the report demonstrates Lidl Ireland’s major contribution to the Irish economy. Primarily focusing on the year 2019, the report outlines:

• Almost €700 million of produce and services procured from Irish economy annually
• More than 8,500 Irish jobs supported, resulting in more than €100 million generated within the economy every year
• €692 million contributed to Irish GDP in 2019

Since first opening its doors in 2000, Lidl Ireland has fast become one of the largest retailers in the country, employing more than 5,000 people directly across its network of 169 stores, 3 regional distribution centres and Dublin head office, investing heavily in its more than 260 Irish suppliers and supporting the communities in which it serves.

Launched today, The Economic Contribution of Lidl in the Republic of Ireland reports that Lidl Ireland contributed €692 million to Irish GDP in 2019 and in the same year, Lidl Ireland made a total capital investment of €210 million within the Irish economy. This €210m is in addition to the €1.5 billion invested since it first arrived on Irish shores over 20 years ago. Now, set against an ambitious €550 million growth strategy, Lidl Ireland is committing to further expand its Irish operations with the opening of 20 more stores over the next three years and investing in the redevelopment of another 24.

Commitment to Irish Producers

In 2019, Lidl procured €667 million of produce and services from the Irish economy through its network of more than 260 Irish suppliers. Wielding its global presence, Lidl has continued to facilitate Irish export deals giving Irish producers direct access to international markets and supporting growth within Ireland’s important agri-food sector. Recent export deals include Lidl’s €14 million supply deal with Cavan-based producer, Liffey Meats. The deal saw Liffey Meat’s Bord Bia quality approved Irish beef exported to 17 countries around Europe and the U.S.A. throughout 2020 and with an increase of 42% projected for 2021.

Supporting Irish Jobs

Lidl employed 4,500 people directly throughout its network of stores, distribution centres and centralised operations in the Republic of Ireland with labour related tax revenues amounting to €48 million in 2019. Lidl’s workforce in the Republic has since grown to more than 5,000 employees in 2021. In addition to direct employment, it is estimated that Lidl sustained a further 4,000 jobs in 2019

considering both supply chain and consumer spending-related impacts, equating to an estimated 8,500 jobs sustained by the retailer throughout the Irish economy.

While exhibiting the diversity of Lidl’s workforce, the report showed that Lidl employs a large number of people from the younger age cohorts with 13% of employees aged between 16-24, almost four percentage points larger than the average across the Irish labour force, keeping a particularly vulnerable segment of the workforce in employment throughout the pandemic. Lidl’s operations are widely spread throughout the country with much of its activities located in smaller towns and rural areas, providing employment opportunities where they can often be limited. Consolidating this sentiment, Lidl Ireland announced 1,200 new jobs across a variety of operational and office-based roles earlier this year, to further support its growing footprint of stores nationwide.

Investing in Communities

The report highlights Lidl’s commitment to being a ‘good neighbour’, positively contributing to the local communities in which it operates. Lidl has formed several partnerships with charitable organisations, having fundraised more than €3 million towards nationwide charitable causes by 2019. The most recent of Lidl’s charity partners is Jigsaw – the National Centre for Youth Mental Health. Through this partnership, Lidl has committed to raise €1.25 million by 2022, helping to increase national awareness for youth mental health.

Since the launch of its sponsorship of the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association in 2016, Lidl has invested €5 million in the partnership, supporting over 450 schools and youth teams nationwide, donating more than 11,000 jerseys, balls, and items of equipment, and providing over 300 clubs with cash donations.

In Ireland, Lidl donates on average 50,000 nutritious meals every month to over 300 charities through its partnership with FoodCloud. To date, it has redistributed the equivalent of over 2 million meals to those in need.

Speaking from the launch of The Economic Contribution of Lidl in the Republic of Ireland report, An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said: “Lidl has played an important role in Ireland’s economy and society since its arrival in 2000. Their contribution as an employer, business partner and community ally has had a significant impact across the country.

The grocery retail sector and their employees, in particular, have gone above and beyond for your customers this past year, ensuring that the elderly and the most vulnerable in our society were looked after. As a government, we welcome Lidl’s ambition and support for continued investment and growth on the island of Ireland, as well as the support they provide local producers and suppliers.”

J.P. Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland added: “At Lidl, we are incredibly proud of the growth we have experienced over the past 21 years bringing better value to consumers the length and breadth of the country. It is not just the impact that is felt at a macro level that we value, but also that we have impact in our communities, with our colleagues and through the relationships we have with our more than 260 Irish food suppliers.

We commissioned ‘The Economic Contribution of Lidl in the Republic of Ireland’ report to commemorate our 20th anniversary in the Republic of Ireland and to reflect on all that Lidl has accomplished as a business in that time. However, we continue to look forward and are committed to even greater investment in Ireland as we do so.

Today’s announcement of our €550 million investment represents so much more than bricks and mortar. It is our commitment to our 1.5 million weekly customers, to make life better by continuing to provide quality food at market leading value throughout Ireland for the years to come.