Lidl is offering a finder’s fee running into tens of thousands of pounds to members of the public who locate a suitable site for a new store.
The discounter has said it will pay anyone who identifies a suitable site either 1.5% of the freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent on a leasehold site.
It would mean a £22,500 fee for finding a location that leads to a £1.5m freehold purchase.
Lidl also today published its latest site requirements and list of desired locations, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Cambridge.
The supermarket currently has about 900 stores across the country and is aiming for 1,100 by the end of 2025.
“We’re opening an average of one new store a week, which is incredible, and our teams have done a phenomenal job of keeping that pace going over the last couple of years,” said Richard Taylor, who recently took over from Alan Barry as Lidl GB chief development officer.
“But there are still communities up and down the country that are telling us how much they want – and need – a Lidl store. We work with some of the best people in the industry to identify new sites, but we also know how engaged our future and existing customers are and we want to build on this.
“Our finder’s fees are, therefore, available to absolutely anyone that can identify a viable option for a new store that we’re not already aware of, and we welcome any suitable suggestions that will help us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.”
Lidl has opened 23 stores so far this year, including in Warwick, Hounslow and Straiton.
Aldi is also pursuing ambitious estate growth plans, with a target of 1,200 stores by 2025, up from about 1,000 at the moment. Both discounters are expected to find it increasingly challenging to find suitable sites as they near their targets.
David Haywood, CEO of location analytics firm Maximise UK and a former head of store location at Somerfield, said the chances of a member of the public finding a suitable Lidl site were “slim”. “A similar strategy was applied at Somerfield and it just consumed resource and delivered little,” he said.
“For a site to pass at board level, it will need the correct competitive environment and demographic profile.”
Here are Lidl’s latest site requirements.
London:
• Approx. 0.8-plus acres for standalone stores or up to four acres for mixed-use schemes
• With or without car parking and in close proximity to key public transport links
• As well as standalone stores, opportunities are sought in shopping centres, high streets, mixed-use developments and retail parks
Outside London:
• Prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow
• Freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities
• Unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and 100-plus dedicated car parking spaces
• 1.5-plus acres for standalone stores or up to four acres for mixed-use schemes
• Town centre or edge of centre and retail parks.
Members of the public can find more information on Lidl’s requirements and contact its property team via lidl.co.uk/about-us/property.
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