The budget is 56% larger than that allocated in 2025 and supports the acceleration of growth plans at national level.
Through accelerated expansion, Lidl Romania will consolidate its presence both in major cities and in peri-urban areas and smaller localities. The expansion brings direct benefits to customers, access to quality products at accessible prices, but also a positive impact on the local economy, through the creation of around 1,000 new jobs in Romania and increasing volumes of products purchased from Romanian suppliers.
The investments announced for 2026 mark a stage of accelerated development of the Lidl store network, against the backdrop of a sustained pace of expansion in recent years, the company having as its objective the opening of 200 new stores by 2030, compared to the reference year 2024. In the period 1 March 2024 – 28 February 2026, the network expanded with 41 stores, reaching at the end of the financial year a total of 392 stores at national level.
"The fact that our expansion plan for 2026 has a budget 56% larger than last year's reflects Lidl's confidence in the potential of the local market and our commitment to offer Romanians quality products at unbeatable prices," said Alberto Chueca, CEO Lidl Romania. "We continue to invest in the relationship with our customers, maintaining relevance and coming even closer to them and their needs."
"We rely on current construction technologies, integrate sustainability principles and build to our standards of quality, because we want to continue offering a shopping experience that customers know deserves to be chosen," declared Irina Mușan, Chief Real Estate, Member of the Management Board Lidl Romania.
Lidl's investments in network expansion have a significant impact on the local economy, beyond the company's direct activity. According to a KPMG analysis, in 2024 Lidl's activity in Romania contributed directly, indirectly and induced with €2.31 billion to the gross added value of the economy, equivalent to approximately 0.65% of national GDP. At the same time, each job within Lidl Romania indirectly supports the activity of approximately six other jobs in the economy, contributing to maintaining almost 90,000 jobs at national level.
