6 comments so far.Lidl opens its doors to Gozo shoppers on busy first day
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The new Lidl store in Gozo has opened its doors in Xewkija today, making it the 7th Lidl store on the Maltese Islands. The company said that, “with an approximate sales area of 1,000 square metres and 2 parking levels with more than 100 parking spaces for customer convenience, the new Lidl store will include a team of 30 friendly, young and enthusiastic employees.”
Lidl said that the store in Xewkija will be open every day from 7am till 8pm and will offer a wide range of more than 1,000 products, including fresh fruits and vegetables and an in-store bakery offering fresh bread and pastries daily. The range also consists of both food and non-food items, which are offered twice a week, every Monday and Thursday.
“We are proudly extending our range of products to Malta’s sister Island of Gozo,” said a representative from Lidl. “We will now offer the same enjoyable and convenient shopping experience. Our desire is to increase our customer’s satisfaction by providing high-quality products at the best possible prices.”
Lidl currently employs over 200 employees in Malta and has has continuously increased its Maltese product base, working hand in hand with Maltese suppliers.
Further information on Lidl and special offers can be obtained by visiting www.lidl.com.mt or their Facebook page on www.facebook.com/lidlmalta.
Second Photograph by Alain Salvary shows traffic around the Lidl Gozo store on Thursday morning.
Not a good day for Gozo. In Germany, Lidl ist known for treating their workers badly (e.g. there was a scandal about spying with cameras in the changing rooms and keeping track of illnesses, both illegal in Germany), but moreover, it will have a bad effect on the local economy. Small stores and other supermarkets will suffer.
More important Lidl puts a lot of pressure on the margins of farmers and distributors, with bad effects on their social and enviromental standards. Lidl’s wars with Aldi (in the US: Trader Joe’s) destroy other Food suppliers, which in Germany led to an oligopoly of four supermarket-chains dominating 85 % of the market….
In my opinion, the Maltese farmers, food producers and suppliers only have a chance to survive, if they choose a strict strategy of local production and distribution. I don’t get why, for example, “Main Store” uses genetically modified soy bean oil for its Bigilla…
One thing is for sure: I won’t buy one thing at the Lidl – I am sticking to my Abraham’s next door!!!
It is a nice shop in gozo
And me go next door to Ta Dirjau in Marsalforn ..( for five yaers now ) Nice day to all.of you
I agree totally with Wolfang, its a bad day for Gozo and I hope that the locals (and ex-pats) will still shop at their corner store otherwise they *will* go out of business, they simply cannot hope to compete when Lidl can probably sell goods cheaper than the local shop can buy.
Like a lot of people here, we have lived for long periods in several countries and are used to big hypermarkets, for groceries, for hardware, for furniture, just about anything.
The problem is that although individual prices can be cheap, at the end of the day you walk out of the store spending more that you had planned. Everyone is aware of how large stores will sell things at a loss just to get you through the door, because they know once they have you inside you will spend more. The end result is that the cost of living is higher, you spend on petrol and you buy too much stuff.
I reckon our grocery bill is 30% of that in Australia where everyone shops in two big supermarket chains. Here we walk to the corner shop, buy whatever local veggie is in season and a little meat or fish, fresh bread, and that is it. It is cheaper and far more healthy than buying goods that have been mass produced and shipped half way around the world.
Give me a potato misshapen and dirty fresh from a Gozo field any time over a shiny perfectly round cling wrapped specimen any time!
Kerry now you have more choice from where you can buy. As a democratic country you can’t force people from where to do their shopping.
If prices at lidl are cheaper than the corner store it is right that people choose where it suits their pockets. If you want to keep the corner stores open it’s your choice but please let every one free from where they want to buy.
Peter, in our democratic society we are all equal, but as George Orwell said “some are more equal than others” , the owners of Lidl belong in this category, they have the power to dictate where we shop.
I am flattered that you think I have the ability to keep the corner store open or force people to shop there. and as far as choice is concerned, when they have all closed and we only have Lidl, what choice then ?