4 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
New Lidl opens in NI town with 15 jobs created
The Paralympic gold medallist Bethany Firth MBE cut the ribbon at the retailers 12,000 square metre 'concept store'
A spokesperson for the discount grocer said that 15 new jobs have been added to the existing staff employed by the company in Newcastle, bringing the total to 37.
Staff have moved from Lidl 's former location on the town's Railway Street, were it had been situated for 24 years.
The site of the new store will also be used for the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team to develop a new purpose-built base.
Over 200 people were employed in the construction of the shop, which has a 'living roof' design, which Lidl say is 'designed to blend seamlessly with the store's backdrop set within the Mourne Mountains Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).'
Ms Firth said: 'As a proud ambassador for Lidl's Sport for Good programme, I am delighted to welcome Lidl Northern Ireland's newest store to my local area.
"As someone born and raised in County Down, I am pleased to see Lidl's contribution to the local community that has welcomed the creation of new jobs, while promising continued environmental sustainability – protecting our outstanding local landscape.
'The impressive new store not only offers local shoppers' quality and value but also demonstrates Lidl's genuine investment in our community's future.
"By providing a new base for the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, it's great to see a business that truly understands and is sensitive to the place we call home, supporting the continued provision of a life-saving service in the local area.'
Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland said: "We have been serving the Newcastle community for the last 24 years, from our former premises in Railway Street and our project to develop this brand-new store for the local area has been in planning for the last nine years.
'Newcastle is a thriving community and bustling seaside town attracting visitors from across the island of Ireland.
"With growing customer numbers in the area and more shoppers choosing to 'Go Full Lidl', we are delighted to move to a larger, more sustainable, modern new store for the local community and visitors alike.
'We're also looking forward to completing further developments on our new site, to enable the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team to construct an upgraded new base for their services which are invaluable in this community.'
