Lidl is to open its new store in Thomastown to the public from 8am on Thursday May 14 following a raft of complications that delayed the opening until now which involved the granting of a liquor licence.
The store will serve Thomastown and the surrounding areas with quality food at low costs, along with non-food specials. The opening of the store will also bring up to 15 jobs to the area.
Lidl is already operating on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny city and it sees a good trade with local shoppers hitting the discount store in a bid to get bargains in a recessionary economy.
“Lidl is delighted to finally announce the opening of our new store in Thomastown,” said Lidl spokesperson Aoife Clarke. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming all our new customers on opening day. We would sincerely like to thank all of the residents of Thomastown, and the surrounding areas, for their patience over the past few months. Unfortunately, due to a delay in the processing of an alcohol licence for the store, which was caused by circumstances completely outside our control, we were not in a position to open, as we felt it would not have been fair to the people of Thomastown had they not been able to avail of our full range of products.
“We would also like to thank the local councillors for their ongoing support and in particular the Kilkenny planning authority who we found to be extremely professional and easy to deal with at all times. We look forward to offering our new customers more choice, competition, and value in where they shop in the future.”
Lidl focuses on offering customers top quality products at the lowest possible price. In achieving this, Lidl seeks to keep overheads to a minimum and eliminate any unnecessary costs. Savings are then passed directly on to shoppers, who can expect huge price differences from other major supermarkets. As part of Lidl’s policy to avoid hidden charges and to further promote responsible behaviour, Lidl has charged for plastic bags since opening its first store in 2000 — an approach later adopted by the Government.
Paul Webster, store manager, speaking at the announcement of the opening said he “is delighted to be part of Lidl’s continued expansion in Ireland. Everybody is now taking an active interest in their grocery bills and realise that Lidl offers excellent value for money without compromising on quality.
“Fresh fruit, vegetables, and breads are delivered each day to stores so customers are guaranteed to get the best each time they shop at Lidl.”
Already approximately 2,500 people are employed by Lidl in the Republic of Ireland through stores, head office, and the company’s three regional distribution centres.
