Lidl reveals if it will open new Oxford store, amid rumours

Oxford currently has a Lidl on Watlington Road but there were rumours a second store was being eyed up for the Co-op unit in Summertown.

The Co-op store, which is home to Summertown’s post office, is set to close down in September. READ MORE about this here>>>

Since the closure was announced, rumours have circulated about what will take over the unit, with some suggesting the German chain will move into it. 

File image from inside a Lidl store. Picture: PA Media

The Oxford Mail approached the brand for clarification and a Lidl spokesperson said “unfortunately” the site is not suitable.

“We are still very much committed to bringing a store to Summertown,” they added.

Oxford was featured in Lidl’s annual list of locations where it is interested in opening up stores.

The list also included cities such as Derby, Liverpool and Southampton.

Alongside the list, the discount supermarket is currently asking the British public to help identify sites for new stores.

The discounter, which is investing £1.3 billion in its expansion across 2021 and 2022, is offering a finder’s fee to members of the public who successfully identify suitable sites.

The fee is either 1.5 per cent of the total freehold purchase price or 10 per cent of the first year’s rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.

Lidl already has one store in Oxford on Watlington Road. Picture: Google Maps

Richard Taylor, Chief Development Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We know that the majority of British shoppers still love doing their shopping in person and we are as committed as ever to opening new stores and enhancing our existing ones.

“We’re opening an average of one new store a week, which is incredible, and our teams have done a phenomenal job of keeping that pace going over the last couple of years.

“But there are still communities up and down the country that are telling us how much they want – and need - a Lidl store. We work with some of the best people in the industry to identify new sites, but we also know how engaged our future and existing customers are and we want to build on this.

“Our finder’s fees are, therefore, available to absolutely anyone that can identify a viable option for a new store that we’re not already aware of, and we welcome any suitable suggestions that will help up us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.” 

Members of the public who know of potential sites are encouraged to check details against Lidl’s site requirements and contact the supermarket’s Property team with further details. More information can be found here: www.lidl.co.uk/about-us/property

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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