Up Close: Shoppers review Lidl

If it's true that first impressions are lasting ones, Lidl should be breathing easy.

Retail auditing firm Field Agent sent a handful of its agents to check out the 10 stores Lidl opened on Thursday, June 15, across North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The majority of the Field Agent "QuickShop" shoppers reacted positively to their first experience with the German retailer. (To see the related Field Agent video, click here.)The sample ranked Lidl above competitors Aldi, Walmart, and Kroger as a grocery shopping option.



Among the shoppers with convenient access to their designated Lidl store, 65% said they are completely likely to purchase groceries from the retailer again in the future. Another a 19% said they are very likely. Only 4% of the Field Agent shoppers indicated Lidl would become their exclusive grocer, but 38% expect the German retailer to become their primary grocer. And another 38% said Lidl would be one of a few regular grocers.



Field Agent provides on-location auditing and research via a network of 650,000 “agents” who collect data that can be monitored in real time by its clients.