German retailer Lidl eyes U.S. entry
FRANKFURT, Germany Lidl is coming and that could be a big deal. The German retailer, a deep discounter comparable to Aldi but a little more upscale and brand oriented, is making plans to enter the United States by 2012.
Klaus Gehrig, ceo of the Schwarz Gruppe, told a magazine that the company is eyeing entry into the U.S. and Switzerland even as it pursues a 1,000 store opening initiative in Germany, one that would bring it to 4,000 units and essential parity with Aldi. Lidl does about $79 billion annually in sales and potentially could be a force in U.S. value retailing.