Lidl UK expansion plans ramp up with Scottish push

Lidl is stepping up its UK expansion plans with 12 new stores in Scotland, the German discounter announced on Monday.

The shops, which will open within the next three years, will be based in a range of locations including Dumbarton, East Kilbride, Dundee and Larkhall. Alongside the new stores, the budget grocery chain said it would also regenerate eight existing Scottish outlets.

The expansion will create around 500 new jobs in Scotland and bring the total number of Lidl stores in the country up to 112. Lidl is also building a new 58,000sqm distribution centre in the Eurocentral commercial district in North Lanarkshire, which should be fully operational by November.

Ross Millar, Lidl’s regional director for Scotland, said the retailer was committed to creating new jobs and "providing communities with quality produce at prices that are affordable for everyone".

The news comes just weeks after Lidl announced a £500m investment programme for London, which will see it open 40 stores in the capital over the next five years, including its first West End shop on Tottenham Court Road.

Lidl, which launched in the UK in 1994, and fellow German discounter Aldi are known for their limited but ultra-cheap ranges. While still far smaller than the UK’s main supermarket brands, their popularly has soared. They have had a dramatic impact on the UK grocery market, with rivals often forced to cut prices in response to their growing competition.