MAJOR U.S. supermarkets might have some big worries coming their way.
Lidl, a popular European-based chain, is opening four stores – and it could give competitors a literal run for their money.
Lidl is opening four more locations across the U.S.[/caption]
The first store to open is scheduled for July 30[/caption]
The spate of openings is part of an ambitious plan for gaining a strong foothold in the American market.
Lidl store debuts made within the past year have resulted in ribbon-cutting ceremonies and unusually lengthy lines.
Keeping up with that momentum, a spate of new spots is set to open along the East Coast in the coming weeks.
This move is likely a sweeping concern for other major grocers based along the Eastern Seaboard.
Take Stop & Shop, for instance, which is facing potential price hikes, thanks to matters like supply chain issues to fluctuating tariffs.
As a result, a turf takeover by a low-cost competitor could result in a significant and damaging blow.
UPCOMING LIDL OPENINGS
The latest four planned brick-and-mortar retailers are part of a strategic expansion plan to open 255 new stores in 2025 alone.
Out of those, the first two are scheduled for July 30.
One will take place in Hackensack, New Jersey
The other in Bethesda, Maryland, will usher in customers on the same date, according to Lidl’s press page.
The next will occur on August 1 in New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood, likely to the delight of denizens of the Five Boroughs.
The final of the four will take place in Bowie, Maryland, on August 13.
LIDL’S POPULARITY IS GROWING STATESIDE
While Lidl might not be as much of a household name compared to competitors like Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop, it’s hardly an unknown entity.
The chain boasts well over 12,000 locations worldwide in 31 countries; as of this writing, at least 185 of those stores are U.S.-based.
OPEN UP!
Lidl will open up the following:
- Hackensack, New Jersey: 80 River Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601
- Bethesda, Maryland: 7625 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
- New York City, New York: 408 Grand Street, New York, New York,10002
- Bowie, Maryland: 2017 St Josephs Dr., Bowie, Maryland, 20721
Indeed, much like its fellow German-based rival Aldi, Lidl has gained noteworthy traction among American consumers, including the development of fiercely loyal fan bases.
It’s not uncommon for hardcore enthusiasts of the respective chains to duke it out via social media on sites like Facebook and Reddit.
Debates range from which of the two supermarket chains has lower pricing, to better product selection, to whether one or the other sports better-tasting baked goods.
