Lidl to expand Austrian locations

Discounter Lidl wants to modernize all their Austrian branches by the end of 2016, with the cost of the project expected to hit the hundreds of millions mark, reports the 'Tiroler Tageszeitung' on their website. Lidl opened their first branch in Austria in 1998. Now there are 203 stores in the country employing 4,500 workers. Lidl has 12 stores in the state of Tirol.

They are currently running the largest investment program since they entered the Austrian market, says Alexander Deopito from Lidl Austria. In 2013, 70 million Euro was invested in the branches, and last year 100 million Euro was invested. This year 100 million Euro will also be invested. On top of this, a third regional warehouse will be built in Wundschuh, Steiermark which will cost 60 million Euro.

Last year in the state of Tirol the branches in Kufstein, Imst, Lienz and Reutte were all modernized for millions of Euro. This year, a branch in Jenbach will follow. The approximately ten year old branch in Reutte was entirely replaced and now has a sales area of 800 square meters. "Right now Reutte is our most modern branch in Austria, with the latest technology and the highest environmental standards," says Deopito.