Budget supermarket Lidl has announced plans to create up to 1,000 new jobs with the opening of its largest British distribution centre in Luton, Bedfordshire. The warehouse, around a million square feet in size, will service stores across Greater London and is the fourth such facility to open in the capital.
The distribution centre, double the size of any other Lidl warehouse in the UK, will manage the supply and distribution of food and non-food products to stores in and around the M25. It follows the openings of supporting warehouses in Belvedere, Northfleet and Enfield, as well as 16 others outside the motorway.
In addition, five new Lidl stores are set to open over the next two months in Shepherds Bush, Walthamstow Central, South Ruislip, Hornchurch and Rosehill. Ingo Fischer of Lidl said: “As more London households choose to shop at Lidl we are committed to the continued investment in our operations and infrastructure to support our growth.”
The Luton warehouse is part of Lidl’s £1.45 billion expansion project, which also includes the creation of 5,000 homes, three primary schools and further commercial and retail space by December 2018. The supermarket previously opened distribution centres in Exeter and Wednesbury last year.
David Skinner of Aviva Investors commented: “We are delighted to have secured Lidl as an owner occupier on this important strategic land site. The wider consented scheme has consent for over 5,000 homes and, following the recent opening of the new M1 motorway junction, we intend to commence development in early 2019.”
Lidl first opened in the UK in 1994 and has since expanded to over 690 stores nationwide.
