As more households sought to make savings during the period in question, Lidl attracted an extra 1.4 million shoppers and witnessed its market share increase from 6.1% to 7.1%, which was the most rapid growth experienced by Lidl over the past five years.
Besides a relentless focus on prices, Lidl maintained its position as the UK’s highest-paying supermarket by investing £50m in increasing the minimum hourly rates for store colleagues twice during the period in question. Also it launched nearly 50 new stores in the UK, whilst securing multiple new sites for future expansion as it continued to publish its site requirements.
The update comes as Lidl GB publishes its latest accounts for the year ending 28th February 2023.
Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB CEO: “We've always had a very clear commitment to offer the best value to our customers and that's a strong promise we will always keep, even in uncertain economic times.
"Alongside preserving this price promise, rewarding our people and maintaining long-term relationships with our suppliers will always be a priority. As a privately-owned business we have the ability to make decisions we know will have very real and immediate benefits for our people, customers and suppliers and long-term benefits for our business, too.”
Lidl, which sources its entire core range of fresh meat, eggs, milk, butter and cream from only British suppliers, said it had spent over £4 billion with British companies last year, as it reaffirms its commitment to buy British wherever it possibly can.
McDonnell went on to say: “The entire retail market saw inflation, and, obviously, we were no exception. However, for us, what's of vital importance is our price gap to the traditional supermarkets is as strong as it's always been.
"We’ve invested in keeping our prices low for customers in what has been a very challenging year for most people and, with many more customers flooding through our doors every day, our ambition is to ensure every single household in Britain has access to high quality, affordable food at their local Lidl store.”
During the new financial year, as it continues to invest in its future growth, Lidl GB hasthe :
Opened the largest Lidl warehouse globally, in Luton following an investment of £300m, leading to the creation of up to 1,500 jobs
Completed work on an extension to its Belvedere warehouse, whilst continuing construction on the expansion of its Bridgend RDC alongside submitting plans for a warehouse in Leeds
Further increased market share which is now approaching 8%
Announced an accelerated investment of over £4bn in British food businesses for FY23
Increased hourly pay rates for a third time in just 12 months, with store and warehouse colleagues earning a minimum of £11.40 outside London and £12.85 within the M25, bringing its combined investment over the year to £60 million
Recruited over 6,000 new colleagues since the beginning of the year
Been named as cheapest basket in the Super Grocer 33, four out of six times since its launch last year
Commenting on the outlook for Aldi, McDonnell finished by saying: “As a company, we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth where we are bolstering our infrastructure to sustain us for the long term and hiring thousands of new colleagues too.
"Next year will mark 30 years of Lidl in Great Britain, and there's no ceiling on our ambitions for the next 30 years as we see the potential for hundreds of new stores across Great Britain. In many ways our brand has never been more relevant. We are, and will continue to be, a discount retailer maintaining a relentless focus on providing our customers with great quality at unbeatable prices.”
(EDITOR: Those of us who are concerned about the environment will be interested to know that Lidl's delivery fleet of lorries is powered by food waste from Lidl.)
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