Over €300 million for Cork in new Lidl investment
Lidl Ireland has announced a €306 million investment in its operations in county Cork, as part of a wider €420 million investment across the Munster region.
At the centre of the investment is a new €200 million regional distribution centre at Little Island. The supermarket giant also plans to open 14 new locations across Munster, as well as redeveloping ten existing ones.
The company said it expects the investment to create more than 500 permanent jobs across the province, including 250 in Cork, as well as supporting over 4,500 construction jobs across the 25 developments.
Tara O'Connor, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Ireland said: "For us in Cork, this investment is about turning long-term ambition into something very tangible for the region.
"Through our new €200 million distribution centre at Little Island, new and redeveloped stores, and 250 additional permanent jobs, we are building the infrastructure and teams that will support Lidl's growth for many years to come.
"Cork is already a hugely important part of our business and this next phase will allow us to serve more customers, create new career opportunities and deepen the roots we have built across the county," she said.
The plan represents a significant part of Lidl's €600 million five-year investment programme in Ireland, through which the retailer intends to open up to 35 new shops nationwide.
Robert Ryan, CEO, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said that the investment was a statement of the company's long-term confidence in Cork and Munster.
"This €420 million investment will strengthen our infrastructure across the region, create more than 500 permanent jobs and support thousands more during construction.
"Our contribution here goes well beyond bricks and mortar. We already work with 120 suppliers across Cork, from whom we procured €136 million worth of produce last year, and we are enormously proud of the relationships we have built with local businesses, colleagues, and community organisations across the region," he said.
Lidl entered the Irish market in 2000 and has since grown to over 192 locations, three regional distribution centres, and more than 6,300 employees. An independent study by Oxford Economics found that Lidl contributed over €997 million to Ireland's GDP in 2024.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the investment represented a significant commitment to Ireland, and welcomed the job creation that comes with it.
"Businesses like Lidl play an important role in our economy, creating jobs, supporting local suppliers, and making an important contribution to communities right across the country," he said.