Lidl Italia has reported the highest growth rate (+8.8%) in Italy's large scale retail distribution sector over the past five years, a new report has revealed.
According to a paper by think-thank The European House – Ambrosetti, commissioned by the German retailer, Lidl Italia generated a turnover of €4.7 billion in 2018, making it the fifth in Italy in terms of growth rate and the 33rd in terms of size.
The large-scale distribution sector in Italy is valued at €85 billion, with about 500,000 employees and over 26,000 stores.
Lidl Italia emerged as the ninth biggest player in size, with 630 outlets in 19 regions and 10 distribution centres, the report said.
Focus On Italian Products
With an assortment comprising 80% Italian products, Lidl’s purchases from local producers have contributed around €2.9 billion to the national GDP.
Last year, Lidl Italia invested more than €400 million in the country, ranking among the top-25 companies in Italy.
In the past five years, its total investment has amounted to €1.6 billion.
For 2019, the retailer has planned to invest more than €350 million.
Job Creation
In the past five years, the retailer has generated a total of 82,000 jobs including direct, indirect and induced positions.
With over 16,000 employees, Lidl Italia, on an average, hires more than 2,000 people per year, the report said.
One in two employees in Lidl Italia is under 35 and the female employment rate is 20% higher than the Italian average of 43%.
In 2018, one in three Lidl stores was run by a female manager, with a zero gender pay gap.
Renewable sources now account for 100% of Lidl's electricity supply, removing 620,000 tonnes of emissions from its operations in the past 6 years.
In recent years, Lidl Italia has undergone a profound restructuring, which involved the modernisation of its sales network to offer a more pleasant and functional shopping experience, and the overhaul of the assortment in favour of local products.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
