German discount supermarket chain Lidl is rapidly expanding in Spain, with the aim of opening 50 new stores in 2025, reports daily El País.
This growth is fuelled by its aggressive discount and promotional strategies, consolidating its position as the fastest-growing supermarket chain (1.9%) in the country since 2019, according to market research firm Kantar.
While Lidl’s fiscal year concludes in February and official 2024 sales figures are pending, industry experts project the latter to be around €7 billion.
Lidl is currently the third-largest player in the Spanish market, with a 6.6% market share, trailing only Mercadona and Carrefour.
Boasting over 700 stores, 13 logistics hubs and 18,500 employees, Lidl España has already opened ten supermarkets in 2025, with a €70 million investment, and it plans to open 40 more by the end of the year, including one in Seville, near Higuerón Sur Park, on 16 May.
Expansion Plans
After spending €220 million on opening 40 stores last year, the German discounter is now aiming for a new-store opening almost every week for the rest of the year.
Most of these new locations will be concentrated in Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia, Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Galicia, with recent openings including mid-sized cities like Fuenlabrada, Villalbilla and Majadahonda (Madrid), and Benicarló and Novelda (Valencia), as well as provincial capitals such as Salamanca, Murcia and Lugo.
The company recently opened a €16 million 40,000-square-metre warehouse in Constantí (Tarragona).
Additionally, it is building a 66,000-square-metre centre in Catalonia, supplementing its existing Montcada i Reixac facility.
This new project represents Lidl’s largest logistics investment in Spain to date, of approximately €140 million.
Store Size
Adapting to shrinking household sizes and a shift from hypermarkets to local shopping, the company is focusing on mid-sized stores of around 1,500 square metres with approximately 100 parking spaces, offering a wide selection of fresh produce, to facilitate one-stop shopping.
These new stores also feature electric vehicle-charging stations. A key strength has been Lidl’s private-label brands, supplemented by locally sourced products, to compete with regional chains.
While its growth strategy has been successful, Lidl faces challenges in a competitive market, particularly in continuing its expansion within an already saturated landscape.
