Business

Lidl brings X-Factor to opening of new Derry store

Former X-Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg, who will officially open the new £8m Lidl store next Thursday at Buncrana Road in Derry
Former X-Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg, who will officially open the new £8m Lidl store next Thursday at Buncrana Road in Derry Former X-Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg, who will officially open the new £8m Lidl store next Thursday at Buncrana Road in Derry

LIDL will formally open its new state-of-the-art concept store at Buncrana Road in Derry next Thursday (July 29) in what represents an £8 million investment by the retailer and will create an additional 10 jobs.

The ribbon-cutting will be performed by former X-Factor contestant and local celebrity Eoghan Quigg. The Dungiven-based radio broadcaster will also participate in a meet-and-greet with shoppers from 8am – 9am.

Located at the junction of Buncrana Road and Springtown Road, the expanded store replaces Lidl’s former site at 24 Buncrana Road and is the first of three new stores planned for the north west region as part of a wider £26m investment into the region announced in April.

The north’s fastest growing supermarket, Lidl (https://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/) aims to increase its regional store numbers to 50. It currently operates 41 stores in Northern Ireland, contributing £180m a year to the local economy, sustaining 3,500 jobs and buying and exporting as much as £290m worth of local goods and products.

Lidl's regional director Conor Boyle said: “We’re delighted to continue moving confidently forward with our long-established investment plans for the north west, bringing new employment opportunities and offering customers an enhanced shopping experience at this new location.”

Occupying a 10,000 sq metre site with a 2,217 sq metre store space, shoppers can enjoy an enhanced shopping experience featuring higher ceilings, a more spacious interior layout and enlarged bakery areas. The store will also include improved facilities for staff such as a larger canteen and welfare area and shower facilities.

Built with sustainability as a priority, the new Buncrana Road store will incorporate a range of environmentally friendly features, including four electric vehicle charger spaces within its 146-space car park, enabling customers to charge their electric vehicles for free whilst they shop.