Lidl is Looming

To paraphrase the great 19^th century journalist Lincoln Steffens, “I have seen the future” and it’s name is Lidl. But whether it will work remains to be seen.

The grocery industry has been masticating over Lidl’s entry in the U.S. for a couple of years now and it’s proposed launch this summer has tongues wagging all over the place about the newest entry in small store retailing.

But if you really want to know what’s on the European retailer’s mind, take a look at its first “metropolitan” store format launched in Southeast London, a two-story market with nearly 80 parking spaces and a combination cut-case/upscale look that is very appealing to a broad shopper base. 

Signage throughout the store features special offers, much of it focusing on Lidl’s high quality private label. Anyone who thinks this is not serious competition or just another mistake like Tesco’s Fresh & Easy, might want to start packing their bags.