Lidl to install new air filters in all U.S. stores by yearend

Lidl US is upgrading its ventilation system to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The discount grocer announced that it will install new air filtration systems rated MERV 13 or higher in all of its U.S. stores by the end of this year.  Lidl said that air filters rated MERV 13 or higher are typically found in hospitals and can help filter out COVID-19.

Lidl said it was making the move following recently issued guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control stating that the COVID-19 virus can be spread through the air.

Previously, Lidl stores used advanced commercially rated MERV filtration systems. Epidemiologists and professional associations have recommended using high-efficiency air filters MERV 13 or higher wherever technically feasible to trap small airborne particles that can transmit the virus. Lidl US said it is among the first national grocery retailers to install this type of air filtration system across its entire store network.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have worked diligently to protect the health of everyone in our stores by meeting or exceeding CDC guidelines and this measure to create cleaner, healthier air is no different,” said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. “Customers and team members in Lidl stores can breathe easier knowing we have an added layer of protection against COVID-19.”

Lidl operates around 11,200 stores and is active in 32 countries. It established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, in 2015, and currently operates more than 110 stores across nine East Coast states.