Lidl will open five new stores across England on Thursday, February 19, creating up to 160 jobs in a single day. The discount chain says the coordinated launch marks a significant step in its ongoing expansion, with 19 more outlets scheduled to open within eight weeks.
The simultaneous openings reflect a broader growth strategy that the retailer has been signaling since the start of the year. Lidl described the move as a “major milestone in its ambitious growth strategy and its commitment to providing high-quality goods at unbeatable prices.”
Beyond store numbers, the expansion carries economic weight. The company confirmed that up to 160 new roles will be created through these five openings alone, reinforcing its push to strengthen its presence in communities across England.
Five Locations Confirmed for February 19
According to reports, the openings are part of a broader rollout that will see 19 additional locations launch within the next eight weeks. The clustering of store launches in a single day underlines the scale and coordination behind Lidl’s current expansion phase. Each site will begin trading immediately, joining Lidl’s existing network of UK stores as the retailer continues to increase its national footprint. The five new stores set to open on Thursday are located in:
- Chester, Caldy Valley Road
- Calne, Oxford Road
- Dereham, Yaxham Road
- Havant, Purbrook Way
- London, Stamford Hill
The five-store launch will generate up to 160 job roles. This hiring round follows Lidl’s earlier announcement outlining plans for further store openings in the near term.
Speaking at the start of the year, Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve. With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market.”
His remarks frame the expansion not simply as a retail increase, but as part of a deliberate effort to grow market share across the country.
The ‘Lidl Effect’ and Community Impact
The retailer has linked this wave of openings to what it calls “The Lidl Effect,” a term it uses to describe the wider benefits of its store growth beyond retail activity.
From their first day of operation, the new outlets will participate in Lidl’s “Feed it Back” surplus food donation programme. The initiative, delivered in partnership with Neighbourly, provided 18.5 million meals to 6.8 million people across Great Britain last year.
As Lidl’s store network expands, the company maintains that its community support initiatives will expand alongside it. The February 19 openings represent both a commercial milestone and an extension of those ongoing programmes into five additional locations across England.
