Our story - home and abroad
Lidl burst onto the Irish grocery market scene in the year 2000. Since then, we have established ourselves as a well-known, reputable retailer who is supporting communities all over Ireland. Our team of over 4,200 help us operate over 180 stores and three logistics centres.
Since starting as a food wholesale company in Germany in the 1930s, our goal was to offer quality and freshness at the lowest possible price.
We are proud to be a discounter. Shopping at Lidl is simple and uncomplicated due to our standardized store system. Alongside relationships built with our team and suppliers based on mutual respect, we've experienced strong growth throughout Europe and more recently in the US, by remaining true to our core business model.
Distribution centres in Ireland
+
Employees in Ireland
Stores in Ireland
We work with over 200 Irish suppliers purchasing in excess of €700m worth of goods for sale in our stores or in our stores around Europe and the US. We are proud to have helped many suppliers grow their business through their relationship with Lidl and we indirectly support an additional 5,700 jobs in Ireland*.
Lidl’s story begun in the city of Neckarsulm in the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the 1930s. Lidl is characterised by ambition and the desire to explore new markets saw our company grow outside of Germany in the 1980's. Today we are represented in 31 countries and operate approx. 12,350 Lidl stores worldwide
*Economic Report prepared by DKM Consultants for Lidl Ireland
-
1930
Lidl & Schwarz KG is founded as a food wholesale company in Neckarsulm, Germany. Still today, our international headquarters is located in Neckarsulm.
-
1973
The first Lidl store opens in Ludwigshafen-Mundenheim in Germany.
-
1988
15 years after opening its first store, Lidl counts more than 450 stores in Germany and over 5,000 employees.
-
1989
Lidl expands outside of Germany with the first store opening in France.
-
2000
The turn of the millennium marks the start of Lidl’s success story in Ireland with 7 stores opening.
-
2003
Lidl reaches a major milestone with a workforce of 80,000 internationally.
-
2005
Lidl reaches 50 stores in the Republic of Ireland when the Ashbourne store opens in County Meath.
-
2006
Lidl becomes the first discounter to make a fair trade own brand 'Fairglobe' permanently listed.
-
2009
Another milestone as Lidl hits its 100th location with Cobh opening its doors in October of that year.
-
2015
Lidl becomes the first nationwide employer to introduce the voluntary Living Wage of €11.50 per hour for entry level employees.
-
2017
Lidl takes the plunge and opens its first store outside of Europe, in the United States.
-
2018
Lidl Ireland is awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards.