Lidl boosts loyalty programme investment as profits and footfall surge
Lidl reported a 10% rise in operating profit and a 10.8% jump in revenue, crediting a major expansion of its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme that lifted user numbers by 23% and added 43 million extra store visits.
Lidl’s latest financial results show a 10% increase in operating profit to £345 million and a 10.8% rise in revenue to £13 billion, driven by 43 million additional shopping trips year-on-year. The retailer attributes the growth to a significant boost in its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme, which saw a 23% rise in members and helped attract shoppers from competitors, generating £650 million in incremental sales and 486 million extra product purchases.
Investment in price reductions and promotions totalled £315 million, while store upgrades of £43 million focused on self-checkout lanes, better lighting and freezer improvements. Aldi chief executive Giles Hurley accused loyalty discounts of being non-transparent, yet both chains expect to keep expanding; the CMA is set to apply the same land-use rules to them as to other grocers, and Lidl plans to open more than 50 new stores by February 2027 as part of a £600 million expansion plan.
Why it matters
Lidl’s loyalty-driven growth shows how discount retailers are reshaping UK grocery competition and pricing.
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