The threat to the big four supermarkets from discount chains stepped up a notch on Friday as Germany's Lidl unveiled plans for a 220 million pounds expansion in the UK, theguardian.com reports. The company will open 20 more stores by the end of this year, taking its total to 620. It said the move would create a total of 2,500 jobs in the stores, at its headquarters in Wimbledon, south London, and at a distribution centre in Northfleet in the Thames estuary.

The announcement came after the company spent 170 million pounds in the UK in 2013, opening 12 stores and creating 3,500 jobs. The privately owned firm reported sales of 3.3 billion pounds last year with a 20% increase in the last 12 months helping Lidl grab a 3.6% share of the UK grocery market.

Source: www.freshplaza.com