German grocer Lidl prepares for U.S. expansion, to open headquarters in Virginia

Neckarlsum, Germany — Another European supermarket retailer has its sights set on the United States: German discount grocer Lidl on Friday announced it is establishing a U.S. corporate headquarters, in Arlington County, Va. The move comes as rival Aldi contines to aggressively expand throughout the United States.

Lidl, which operates nearly 10,000 stores in 26 countries, will also open a regional headquarters and distribution center facility in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The retailer is privately held by the family-owned Schwarz Group.



“We are excited to take this important step to launch Lidl’s expansion into the U.S. and look forward to introducing American consumers to a different type of shopping experience,” said Brendan Proctor, president and CEO of Lidl US. “Our philosophy is simple: we are focused on offering customers top quality products at the most competitive pricing in convenient locations. We plan to build on the foundation that has made Lidl so successful in Europe, while creating a unique experience for American consumers that will be unlike anything else in the market.”

In a press release, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said Lidl will spend $202 million in Virginia. The headquarters will have 500 employees and the distribution center 200 employees.