German Discount Grocer Lidl Eyes 15 North Texas Locations
From all indications, Aldi’s German rival Lidl is gearing up to make a splash in the North Texas grocery market.
Based on various county records and approvals from planning and zoning boards, the Dallas Morning News has identified 15 cities where Lidl is looking to set up shop, and the number of locations in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, and Rockwall counties is rapidly growing.
In addition to Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, McKinney, Garland, Rockwall, and Colleyville, cities identified for store locations are Grand Prairie, Sachse, Wylie, Rowlett, Little Elm, North Richland Hills, and two Mansfield sites.
Like Aldi and Trader Joe’s, Lidl offers discount prices by predominantly stocking its own brands. While stores are about half the size of a Tom Thumb or Albertson’s, Lidl stores, which contain their own onsite bakery, are typically larger than an Aldi.
Lidl made its entry in the U.S. market on the East Coast where it plans to open at least 100 stores by next summer. Company officials have yet to give a timeline for the Texas rollout, though.
Last year, Aldi opened its second distribution center in Texas. On the national level, it is spending $1.6 billion to expand and remodel the majority of its 1,600 stores in 35 states. Company officials told the News that it is spending $66 million to remodel and add 1,500 square feet to its Texas stores, which is expected to be completed by 2019.