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    Lidl (generally pronounced /ˈlɪdəl/ LI-dəl in English-speaking countries and pronounced /ˈliːdəl/ LEE-dəl in its country of origin) is a German discount supermarket chain that operates about 8,000 stores worldwide. The company's full name is Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG. It belongs to the holding company Schwarz, which also owns the store chains Handelshof and Kaufland. Lidl is the chief competitor of the similar German discount chain Aldi. Founded in the 1930s by a member of the Schwarz family (and called at the time Schwarz Lebensmittel-Sortimentsgrosshandlung), Lidl has – since the opening in 1973 of the first of its stores in their present incarnation – now established itself in over 20 countries worldwide. The name Lidl is not an abbreviation, but the family name of Ludwig Lidl, a retired teacher. In 1930, Josef Schwarz became a partner in Südfrüchte Grosshandel Lidl & Co., a fruit wholesaler, and he developed the company into a general food wholesaler. In 1977, under his son Dieter Schwarz, the Schwarz-Gruppe began to focus on discount markets, larger supermarkets, and cash and carry wholesale markets. The first Lidl discount store was opened in 1973, copying the Aldi concept. By the year 1977, the Lidl chain comprised 33 discount stores.
[edit] Store layoutMost Lidl stores follow the same basic layout flow with tins and carbonated drinks in the first aisle and alcohol in the last. The chiller always runs along the back wall of the store, with chilled convenience foods such as sandwiches, pasta salads and fruit in the first chiller bay. Older stores did not have aisle breaks (gaps in between the shelving) that ensured customers followed the flow of the store. This practice has been largely reduced with older stores being re-merchandised to accommodate these breaks. Fruit and vegetables are always in the first aisle of the store, as are bread and cakes. [edit] Other ServicesIn late October 2009 Lidl UK launched an DVD rental service 'Lidl Movies'[2], undercutting Tesco DVD rental which had previously been the UK's cheapest online DVD rental service. The service is powered by OutNow DVD rental which has previously been criticised for its poor customer service.[3] [edit] Criticism of Lidl's treatment of its staffTrade unions in Germany and other countries have repeatedly criticised Lidl for mistreatment of workers, breach of European directives on working time and other abuses. These have been published in the "Black Book on the Schwarz Retail Company" published in Germany and now available in English.[4] Whilst The Times notes that Lidl managers work excessive hours, being obliged to sign out of the working time directive when starting with the company, both The Guardian [5]and The Times [6]in the UK amongst other allegations have reported that Lidl spies on its workforce with cameras, makes extensive notes on employee behaviour, particularly focusing on attempting to sack female workers who might become pregnant and also forces staff at warehouses to do "piece-rate" work. Lidl management denied the charges. No public information is given on the Lidl website about how to contact Lidl senior management and the company hides its ownership structure behind an elaborate network of front companies.[7] In Italy, in 2003, a judge in Savona sentenced Lidl for anti-union policies, a crime in that country.[8] In March 2008 the German news magazine "Stern" released a cover story reporting systematic surveillance of Lidl workers, including most intimate details of their private affairs.[9][10][11] Lidl's treatment of employees has further been illustrated by a former employee who has dedicated a website to show stories of past and present employees.[3][12] Lidl has also come under criticism in the United Kingdom & Ireland for not allowing workers to join Unions. [edit] Countries with Lidl branches [edit] Current
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Categories: Supermarkets of Germany | Supermarkets of Belgium | Supermarkets of Denmark | Supermarkets of Finland | Supermarkets of the Netherlands | Supermarkets of Northern Ireland | Supermarkets of Poland | Supermarkets of Portugal | Supermarkets of the United Kingdom | Supermarkets of Spain | Supermarkets of Switzerland | Supermarkets of Sweden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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