Lidl spends £435 million on warehouses to support UK expansion
Discount retailer Lidl has announced that has spent some £285 million tripling capacity at its Belvedere distribution centre and is set to start a £150 million investment with the construction of a 581,200 ft2 distribution centre in Leeds.
By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters
Lidl GB has completed its two-stage extension at its Belvedere site in London, investing £285 million across two buildings. The first phase saw the construction of a new, second warehouse, while the second stage demolished the original building to make way for a 396,000 ft2 state-of-the art warehouse, which tripled capacity. The retailer now has some 800,000 ft2 warehouse space at Belvedere, a 167% increase in its footprint since first opening at the site in. Once fully operational, the site will serve 120 stores.
In July, building started on its 581,000 ft2 distribution facility in Gildersome, Leeds. Practical completion is due next year.
Lidl GB Chief Re al Estate Officer Richard Taylor, said: “We’re proud to play our role in driving economic growth, while continuing to establish an infrastructure that delivers sustainable growth for our ambitious expansion plans. But these investments are not just about logistics. The updates today also represent an investment in our mission to make good food accessible to households across the country.”
Lidl part of the Schwarz retail group is currently searching for a south of England distribution centre to help serve its ambition of opening 1,000 stores across the UK.
Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has grown to over 980 stores with 14 distribution centres employing some 25,000.
