Lidl Eyes Hundreds More UK Stores After 1,000-Store Milestone

Lidl is gearing up for a fresh chapter of expansion after celebrating the opening of its 1,000th store in Britain, with chief executive Ryan McDonnell signalling there’s plenty more growth in the pipeline.

Image courtesy of Lidl

The German discount supermarket arm has seen rapid growth in recent years, with a near fourfold increase in pre-tax profits to around £157m in the financial year to February 28, 2025, and revenues climbing to £11.7bn as shopper numbers surged. That reflects millions more visits year-on-year as Lidl continues to attract cost-conscious customers with a mix of low prices and quality fresh lines.

McDonnell says Lidl sees an opportunity to roll out “hundreds more stores” across the UK. Plans already outline opening around 40 new outlets through the 2025/26 financial year, with a further 13 due before Christmas, as the discounter accelerates its footprint. He has stopped short of putting a formal cap on the total estate, pointing instead to market demand and opportunity as the key drivers of growth.

The milestone 1,000th store, opened recently in East Grinstead, arrives alongside Lidl GB’s first socioeconomic impact report, which shows the business contributed an estimated £14.5bn in gross value added to the British economy in 2024 and supported nearly 282,000 jobs directly and indirectly across its supply chain.

McDonnell emphasised that the new store is not just a number on the board. He said there are still many communities across the UK which could benefit from what Lidl brings to local areas, underlining the retailer’s ambition to deepen its reach beyond its current footprint.

Looking ahead, Lidl is also planning to double its investment in British suppliers over the next five years, committing around £30bn, while continuing to invest in its distribution network and store infrastructure to support long-term growth.

The message from McDonnell is clear: Lidl believes there is significant headroom for further expansion in the UK, and it intends to keep pushing forward as competition in the grocery market intensifies.