Lidl Scouting U.S. Locations

Lidl (Neckarsulm, Germany) is looking to bring its value-oriented supermarket stores to the U.S., reports The Record. It is currently scouting different areas along the East Coast, stretching from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Georgia, to launch its stores. The company is still in the early stages of its search but plans to open its first stores no later than 2018.

Lidl grocery stores are known for being smaller-format supermarkets carrying less than 2000 different items, most of which come from their private-label brands. To accommodate those needs, the company is scouting areas with a minimum of 3.5 acres to construct 36,000-square-foot-size, stand-alone stores along with at least 150 parking spaces. The company usually prefers to purchase property and build new stores rather than lease existing stores.