Competition within the Irish grocery trade is set to become much more intense following the disclosure by German discounter Lidl that it is searching for web sites for greater than 60 additional stores on each sides of the Border.The planned expansion is believed to be the largest by any in the primary grocery multiples and coincides with indicators of a continuing recovery in customer spending inside the Republic.Lidl is already one of many largest retailers in Ireland with 143 stores along with a additional 38 in Northern Ireland. The other German discount chain Aldi has 115 stores in the Republic but does not trade in Northern Ireland.lidl flowers has appointed CBRE’s Dublin and Belfast offices to locate key sites in cities and towns to facilitate the expansion. After opening its very first retailer right here in 2000, it expanded rapidly and "experienced unparalleled development throughout their lifetime in Ireland," based on the company.As a part of the continued expansion technique it says it really is "looking to open further 60-plus retailers on high profile websites with great visibility and accessibility."Freehold propertiesThe perfect site will likely be two acres in size even though smaller plots of about 1 acre will be considered in high density urban areas. There's also a preference for freehold properties to accommodate retailers ranging in size from 1,800 sq m to 2,400 sq m (19, 375 sq ft/25,833 sq ft).Florence Stanley, head of retail at CBRE Dublin, said that as well as mounting a countrywide search for suitable sites, they could be contacting nearby estate agents to find the very best enterprise areas."It may take a although to fulfil our commitment but if we handle to line up 60 websites inside 3 years our client would most likely be satisfied."While most of the current Lidl properties have substantial parking facilities, the organization has also been in a position to avail of smaller sized, well-located websites by placing the shops on stilts and utilizing the space underneath the creating for parking. 1 such shop is positioned on the 1.14-acre former Sunday Globe web site in Terenure which lately opened for business.That web site was purchased by a residential development business during the house boom for €18.3 million and was acquired right after the crash by Lidl for more than €4 million.Not good newsTara Buckley, director basic of the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association, mentioned 60 discount supermarkets was not excellent news for Irish towns and villages.A report by economist Jim Energy had shown that a euro spent inside a locally owned shop was worth 3 instances greater than 1 spent in a British or German chain. At the end of the day their profits go back to Germany or the UK.Lidl’s share from the discount marketplace in the North has risen considerably more than the years even though surprisingly the business has not been challenged in that marketplace by Aldi. That organization not too long ago confirmed that its planned £600 million expansion inside the UK - it's to open yet another 550 outlets - will not consist of Northern Ireland.Meanwhile, Tesco is still mulling over the long delayed megastore planned for Liffey Valley Purchasing Centre in west Dublin. It has denied it's to be abandoned just like 49 other supermarket projects in the UK.Planning permission for the shop was granted by An Bord Plean?la in June 2016 and, based on an official spokesperson, the company is "working through organizing compliance with the nearby authority and as such a commencement date for the development has not but been finalised".