Lidl Romania has announced an expansion plan of over 285 million euros for the 2026 financial year (March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027), dedicated exclusively to expanding its national network with more than 40 new stores. The budget is 56 percent higher than the one allocated in 2025 and supports the acceleration of the company’s nationwide growth plans.
The investments announced for 2026 mark a new phase in the acceleration of the Lidl store network’s development, following a sustained expansion pace in recent years. The company aims to open 200 new stores by 2030, compared to the 2024 reference year. Between March 1, 2024 and February 28, 2026, the network expanded by 41 stores, reaching a total of 392 stores nationwide at the end of the financial year.
“The fact that our expansion plan for 2026 has a budget that is 56 percent higher than last year’s reflects Lidl’s confidence in the potential of the local market and our commitment to offering Romanians high-quality products at unbeatable prices. We continue to invest in our relationship with our customers, maintaining our relevance and getting even closer to them and their needs. The opening of more than 40 new stores will contribute to the local economy and to the development of the entire supply chain by creating new direct and indirect jobs,” said Alberto Chueca, CEO of Lidl Romania.
Lidl’s investments in expanding its network have a significant impact on the local economy beyond the company’s direct activity. According to an analysis conducted by KPMG, in 2024 Lidl’s activity in Romania contributed €2.31 billion to the economy’s gross value added, equivalent to approximately 0.65% of the national GDP. At the same time, each job within Lidl Romania indirectly supports the activity of around six other jobs in the economy, helping sustain nearly 90,000 jobs nationwide.
The stores that will be opened in 2026, including those developed through demolition and reconstruction projects, will comply with high energy-efficiency and sustainability standards and will be located both in large urban areas and in peri-urban zones and smaller towns. These will include large-format units with sales areas between 1,400 and 1,700 square meters, as well as more compact stores of around 1,100 square meters, in line with the company’s plan to facilitate access for as many Romanians as possible to affordable products of the highest quality, as well as to a simple and efficient shopping experience.
The expansion of the Lidl network also directly supports the development of local suppliers by increasing purchasing volumes. The company collaborates with over 500 Romanian suppliers, and according to the same study, in 2024 Lidl’s spending with suppliers in Romania exceeded €2.16 billion. Currently, Lidl’s team in Romania numbers more than 14,000 employees, and the planned expansion for 2026 will generate around 1,000 new jobs, with a positive impact on local communities.