// Lidl opens its most central London store yet on Tottenham Court Road
// The new store will serve NHS workers at the nearby University College Hospital as well as locals
// Lidl is also donating snack products and fruit & veg to NHS staff at the nearby hospital
Lidl has opened its most central London store yet on Tottenham Court Road.
The new 14,854sq ft store, of which plans were first announced last year, is opposite Warren Street tube station and immediately next to University College Hospital.
Lidl said the timing of the opening means it could serve the nearby frontline NHS staff workers as well as the wider local community as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
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The German discount grocer added that despite its central London location, the store stocks Lidl’s full range of products.
The new store is part of Lidl’s £1.45 billion investment in its expansion across Great Britain in 2019 and 2020 and a £500 million investment in London by 2025.
Plans in London specifically include over 40 new stores, creating around 1500 new jobs for the capital, in addition to its new HQ in Tolworth, South West London, a new distribution centre in Luton and the expansion of its Belvedere distribution centre.
Regarding the new Tottenham Court site, Lidl said it has been liaising with University College Hospital management to understand how to meet NHS workers’ needs, and will be donating snacks and fruit & veg directly to them for assistance throughout long shifts.
“We know how important our role is at this time in helping keep the nation fed,” Lidl GB chief executive Christian Härtnagel said.
“Through the opening of this new store on Tottenham Court Road, we’re proud that we can provide the local community and frontline workers at University College Hospital with access to the essential products they need, at affordable prices.
“We would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to all frontline workers for their efforts and commitment, including our incredible team working at the new store, who join the rest of our workforce in doing a truly amazing job during these extremely challenging times.”
The new store will also be providing surplus food to local charity Rhythms of Life, which works to support homeless people in the local community.
This will be delivered through Lidl’s Feed it Back scheme in partnership with Neighbourly, working to help some of the vulnerable in society access high quality food.
The news follows Lidl’s recent announcement that it has rolled out customer food donation boxes in stores nationwide, so customers have the opportunity to donate food directly to local community foodbanks.
Lidl has also donated £300,000 to Neighbourly’s Covid Emergency Fund to help charities access food and funding immediately during this time of need.
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