**Lidl Targets Ambitious Expansion by Eyeing 43 New Store Locations Across Wales**
In a significant move poised to impact the Welsh retail landscape, supermarket giant Lidl has unveiled an extensive list of 43 towns and communities across Wales where it aims to open new stores. The announcement is part of the retailer’s half-a-billion-pound expansion drive across the United Kingdom, reflecting Lidl’s ongoing ambition to grow its network and provide broader access to its value-driven grocery offering.
This bold expansion plan comes as Lidl publishes its latest annual “wish list” of potential store locations, a tradition where the retailer outlines towns and areas it believes would benefit from a new branch. Although inclusion on the list is no guarantee of development, it represents Lidl’s intention to engage property agents and local councils in identifying viable opportunities in these communities.
Commenting on the plans, Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, emphasised the strategic importance of this investment for the brand. “This level of investment is a clear sign of our ambition,” Taylor remarked. “As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain and move towards a thousand stores, there are still many parts of the country calling out for convenient access to a Lidl store. New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies.”
Lidl’s wish list for 2025 sees the supermarket exploring sites across both urban and rural Wales. In south and mid Wales, the communities under consideration span from Cardiff city centre and suburbs like Cyncoed, Thornhill, and Fairwater, to traditional market towns such as Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, and Llantwit Major. Other hopefuls include prominent towns like Aberdare, Llanelli, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Swansea, underlining the company’s commitment to covering a diverse geographic area.
North Wales is also set to benefit from the retailer’s growth, with shortlist locations including Abergele, Caernarfon, Flint, Llandudno, and Rhyl. Lidl’s requirements for these sites are clear: prominent locations with strong pedestrian and vehicle access, spanning between 18,000 and 26,500 square feet and offering at least 100 parking spaces. Sites can range from town centres to the edge of towns or larger retail parks.
Behind this aggressive expansion is a desire to make Lidl stores more accessible to communities that have previously lacked easy access to discount supermarkets. The company’s rapid growth is a testament to the rising popularity of discount grocers in the UK, as households increasingly seek value for money amidst ongoing economic pressures.
Lidl’s investment goes beyond the opening of new branches. This year, the goods giant is finalising the expansion of its Belvedere Regional Distribution Centre, which now boasts more than double its previous capacity. Construction is also slated to start on a new distribution hub in Leeds, positioning Lidl to efficiently support its burgeoning store estate well into the future.
The retail sector in Wales and the wider UK has encountered numerous challenges in recent years, including shifting consumer behaviour, supply chain disruptions, and competition from both established chains and online retailers. Lidl’s plans are notable not just for their scale, but also for the confidence they signal in the continued relevance and growth potential of bricks-and-mortar retail.
Industry observers will be watching closely to see which of the 43 Welsh locations make it from wishlist to reality, and how the presence of new Lidl stores may influence local economies, employment rates, and high street dynamics. Although the store roll-out is far from guaranteed for every location cited, it underscores Lidl’s deepening commitment to customer proximity and regional investment.
For those eager to discover if their town or city is on Lidl’s radar, the full list of prospective Welsh locations includes: Aberdare (North), Abergavenny, Abertillery, Barry, Blackwood, Brecon, Bridgend, Builth Wells/Llandrindod Wells, Burry Port, North Caerphilly, Caldicot, Cardiff (City Centre and other suburbs), Ebbw Vale, North Llanelli, Llantwit Major/Cowbridge, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport (multiple districts), Penarth, Pencoed, Pontypool, Port Talbot (East/Margam), Pyle, Swansea (various), Talbot Green, Tenby, Tonyrefail/Tonypandy, Treforest/Pontypridd (South), Welshpool, Ystradgynlais, with Abergele, Caernarfon, Flint, Llandudno, and Rhyl highlighted in the north.
As Lidl looks to cement its place as one of the fastest growing supermarkets in the UK, Welsh communities across the listed regions may soon find a new Lidl on their doorstep—pending planning approvals and viable site negotiations. Should this expansion materialise as hoped, it could represent a significant boost for consumers and local job-seekers alike.