Lidl confirms plans for new £8m Cookstown store

PLANS for a new state-of-the-art Lidl supermarket in Cookstown have been unveiled which will create 18 additional jobs in the town, expanding its existing team to 40 employees as part of of an £8million planned investment.

Around 200 jobs will be supported during the construction and development phases ahead of its opening next year.

A full planning application has been lodged with Mid Ulster District council following a successful and extensive community consultation in August, held within its existing store at Station Square, outlining its plans to completely replace and relocate to a new location at Orritor Road.

The current store at Station Square was Lidl Northern Ireland’s first in the region and the first store to be built on the island of Ireland in 1999. Confirmation of its plans for a new store in Cookstown comes as the retailer prepares to mark its 25 year anniversary in the North next year.

The new Cookstown store will include an enlarged 1,670 square metre sales floor within the new 2,475 square meter building, incorporating wider aisles, an instore bakery, toilets, baby-changing facilities and employee areas built to exacting standards with sustainability at the fore.

Welcoming the announcement, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Regional Managing Director Ivan Ryan said, “We’re thrilled to progress plans to create a new state-of-the-art store for the residents of Cookstown, providing the local community and beyond with even more access to high quality products at best-value prices.

“Our Cookstown store – the first to be built on the island of Ireland in 1999 – was one of the stores where I completed my initial training many years ago so I’m delighted that our exciting plans to invest £8 million in the development of a new retail facility in the town will become a reality in my tenure as Regional Managing Director.

“In a prime and convenient new location on the bustling Orritor Road, with modern facilities, our new Cookstown store will provide our growing number of customers with a premier shopping experience.

“It’s poignant and fitting that plans are progressing to prepare to break ground on this project in 2024, our 25 year anniversary. This is a special project for us, and we’re excited to deliver this new Concept store to a very deserving community whilst also creating new jobs for the local area.”

“We are delighted to now lodge a full planning proposal, backed by local residents and stakeholders, to deliver this significant project.”

Earlier this year, Lidl Northern Ireland revealed that it spent a record £455 million in the local agri-food sector, sourcing its supplies from around 60 producers in the region – the lion’s share, or £390 million of which, was exported to stores across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Recent new supplier additions include Holmes Bakery in Portadown, Enniskillen-based artisan condiment supplier Erne Larder and apple producers Natural Umber, based in nearby Dungannon.