Lidl Italia is planning to invest over €400 million in its operations during 2020, including opening 50 new supermarkets.
The retailer's goals are part of its Lidl per l’Italia business plan, which focuses on three key pillars: investment in the sales network and logistics, the creation of new jobs, and the enhancement of the Italian agriculture and food chain.
New Openings
In addition to the opening of new stores, the allocated resources will also be used for restructuring work on existing stores.
After a forced break due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the expansion plan is once again operational, with five new supermarkets having opened since 4 May, in Ancona, Manerba del Garda, Osio Sotto, Cormano and Milan.
Total investment over the past six years exceeded €2 billion, in addition to the resources earmarked for 2020. On the employment front, over 2,000 people will be hired by the discounter this year.
Italian Food
Lidl Italia plans to further boost its cooperation with Italian food producers, predominantly small and medium-sized companies, which already provide around 80% of the assortment on store shelves.
Last year, the supermarket chain exported Italian products worth over €1.6 billion, of which €420 million was generated from fruit and vegetable sales. Lidl Italia alone accounts for around 9% of the total value of Italian fruit and vegetables exported globally.
Lidl Italia’s network consists of more than 660 stores and 10 logistics platforms.
© 2020 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
