The German discount grocery chain Lidl is planning to open dozens of new stores around the Czech Republic in an aggressive push to increase its market share. In Prague alone, it hopes to increase from just 23 outlets to more than 100, according to the daily Mlada fronta Dnes. The paper cites an anonymous source as saying that the company’s land acquisition program is remarkable. “Lidl has woken up, they’re aggressive” says the source. “They’re is even willing to buy sites without planning.” The company spent most of last year modernizing its existing network of stores, many of which were run-down, unattractive boxes. The change in style is dramatic, and MfD writes that Lidl is now negotiating to find space in shopping centers and existing commercial buildings. These include such locations such as the new Letna shopping center and Karolina Plazza in Karlin.
