A GIANT bargain supermarket is closing one of its most-loved stores today.
The chain has been closing and relocating shops since the Spring last year.
Lidl in Barnstaple, Devon has been serving customers for 25 years but today is rolling the shutters down for the final time.
A spokesperson for the German-owned retailer said: “We can confirm that the lease of our store on Station Rd is coming to an end, and it has been proposed that the store, which first opened its doors almost a quarter of a century ago, will close at the end of June.
“However, residents can be assured that they will still be able to access our great value products at our newer, much larger Gratton Way store and also our store on Old Station Road, both of which are close by.”
The locals will miss the store greatly after one shopper called it a “good place to shop”.
“It is really well stocked with great products,” said another.
A third added: “Staff is absolutely marvellous.”
The Barnstaple branch is one of several shops to be affected by the big changes implemented by Lidl.
Stores in Canterbury, Glasgow, Bromley, Mile Cross, Gosport and Redditch were all closed in 2023.
A few closures were due to the poor condition of the buildings and bosses deeming them unfit for purpose, while others came after opening replacement stores elsewhere.
Any workers affected by the changes were offered roles at alternative locations.
This year shops in Paignton, Kentish Town, Bradford, Layland, Thornaby, Hanham and Wells were all closed between February and March.
The Wells branch is set to reopen in February 2025 after a renovation.
Despite the closures, Lidl is set to open hundreds of new stores across the UK.
Bristol, Birmingham and Berwick in Scotland will all be getting brand new shops.
In London alone, where Lidl is now the third largest supermarket, it will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town.
Lidl said that it is looking for sites in prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow.
The site should be at least one and a half acres for a standalone store and up to four acres for mixed-use schemes.
Sites should allow for unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and over 100 dedicated car parking spaces.
Lidl said it will also consider freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities.
Should a site be successfully identified, the discounter will pay a finders’ fee of either 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5million site purchase.
Richard Taylor, chief development officer at Lidl GB, said: “We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row.
“With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we’re welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.
“We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential.”
