Anne Bruce Secretive hard discounter Lidl has doubled its UK portfolio since 2001, bucking declining numbers in the UK discount sector and leaving longer established competitors Aldi and Netto behind. A source said Lidl was "approaching 350 stores in the UK, including stores due to open imminently", a rise of 130 on the 220 outlets logged by IGD in January 2001. Its aggressive expansion means the UK now has 1,458 discount stores, close to a 1995 peak which followed Lidl's arrival in 1994. IGD figures show there were only 1,332 discount outlets in January 2001, down from 1,474 in 1995. The IGD said problems with planning permission, UK shoppers' dislike of the discount formula, as well as the disastrous Somerfield Kwik Save merger had all contributed to the decline. Lidl's biggest rival Aldi now has 262 stores, having opened 16 in the last 15 months. It is responding to the UK market by making its offer more customer-friendly. It is 12 months into an "extensive store refurbishment programme", moving away from a Spartan look by making stores brighter and easier to shop with new merchandising units. Kwik Save still has 721 stores, no move from the start of 2001. But it is it to convert "five or six" out of discount and into to its new Somerfield City Fresh convenience format in a project due to start on May 21. City Fresh will roll outthrough a combination of Kwik Save conversions and new builds. Netto is sticking to its hard discount guns although store numbers are down from 145 in January 2001 to 125. MD Thomas Jellum said: "We are expanding as much as possible focusing on the Midlands, Yorkshire and Norfolk. Our next store opens on May 15 in Witham, Essex. We plan 15 more this year." He added: "Lidl is having more planning difficulties as it is now looking more in the south." {{NEWS }}

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