Discount supermarket, Lidl, has announced it will offer finder’s fees to members of the public who help connect the retailer with locations for new stores.
The German-headquartered retailer, which as of March 2022 is the sixth largest supermarket brand in the UK, has highlighted a number of locations in Stockport and surrounding areas suitable for new stores as the chain looks to expand to 1,100 locations by the end of 2025.
The discounter is investing £1.3 billion in its expansion in 2021 and 2022, and has announced it will offer a finder’s fees equal to 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds to members of the public who successfully identify suitable sites for new Lidl stores.
As part of plans to expand its reach in Stockport, the following locations in and around the borough are being considered:
- Bredbury
- Buxton
- Didsbury
- Edgeley
- Gatley
- Gorton
- Hazel Grove
- Heald Green
- Heaton Chapel
- Hyde
- Marple
- New Mills
- Poynton
- Reddish
- Stockport town centre
Requirements for sites include prominent locations with strong pedestrian or traffic flow, unit sizes of 18,000 to 26,500 sq ft, and 100+ dedicated parking spaces, either on a retail park or in or near town centres.
Richard Taylor, Chief Development Officer said at Lidl GB said:
“We know that the majority of British shoppers still love doing their shopping in person and we are as committed as ever to opening new stores and enhancing our existing ones. We’re opening an average of one new store a week, which is incredible, and our teams have done a phenomenal job of keeping that pace going over the last couple of years. But there are still communities up and down the country that are telling us how much they want – and need – a Lidl store.
“We work with some of the best people in the industry to identify new sites, but we also know how engaged our future and existing customers are and we want to build on this. Our finder’s fees are, therefore, available to absolutely anyone that can identify a viable option for a new store that we’re not already aware of, and we welcome any suitable suggestions that will help up us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.”
Members of the public who know of potential sites are encouraged to check details against Lidl’s site requirements and contact the supermarket’s Property team with further details.
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