Lidl Ireland has unveiled the findings of its ‘Economic Contribution of Lidl in the Republic of Ireland’ report, commemorating 25 years of operating in the country. Conducted by Oxford Economics, the report demonstrates Lidl Ireland’s economic and social footprint since first opening its doors in Ireland in 2000. The report highlights Lidl’s direct financial contribution to the Irish economy, its wider impact on employment and Irish suppliers, and underscores Lidl’s positive role in communities across the country, delivering meaningful social impact through its support for charities like Family Carers Ireland and championing gender equality in sport with the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association.
Economic Impact & Fiscal Contribution
The report reveals that in 2024, Lidl Ireland contributed €997 million to Irish GDP - reflecting the significant value Lidl creates for Ireland through its retail activities, supply chain and employment. Of this, €891 million came from Lidl’s Irish store-based activity across its network of 186 stores, representing considerable growth of 39% over the last five years. Lidl’s sourcing from Irish suppliers for direct export to its international markets generated an additional €107 million to Irish GDP. In 2024, Lidl’s total Irish operations led to tax revenues of €329 million being contributed to the Exchequer.
Since Lidl Ireland first opened its doors in 2000, launching stores in Athlone, Ballinasloe, Cavan, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mullingar, and Portlaoise, it has grown exponentially becoming one of Ireland’s largest retailers. Lidl has captured 13.8%* of the Irish grocery market and now welcomes more than 1.5 million shoppers through its doors every week demonstrating that its focus of making good food accessible to everyone is resonating strongly with consumers.
Investing in Irish Products & Services
In 2024 alone, Lidl spent €1.3 billion with its network of 400 Irish suppliers - an increase of 70% over the last five years as it created more opportunities for customers in Ireland and international markets to buy world-class Irish-made products. Every region across Ireland benefited from Lidl’s support for Irish suppliers, with at least €69 million procured in each of Lidl’s eight key regions in 2024. Dublin, the Mid-East, and the Border regions benefited from 66% (€827 million) of this investment. Recent substantial local supplier contracts include a €30 million contract with Cork’s Keohane’s Seafood and a €6 million contract with Dublin’s Golden Bake.
Leveraging its global presence, Lidl has expanded its export opportunities for Irish producers, providing direct access to 27 international markets such as Croatia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the USA, and supporting the growth of Ireland’s vital agri-food sector. The Midlands region led in exports, with 66% of procurement destined for international markets, driven by global suppliers like Longford-based C&D Foods and Panelto Foods, and showcasing the best of Irish produce on the world stage.
Supporting Irish Jobs
In 2024, Lidl employed 5,529 people directly through its network of more than 180 stores, three regional distribution centres and centralised operations in the Republic of Ireland. Beyond its direct workforce, the report estimated that Lidl sustained a further 4,710 jobs in 2024 considering both supply chain and the wider impacts of consumer spending, bringing the total number of jobs supported by the retailer to approximately 10,240 jobs across the Irish economy last year.
Since 2019, the company’s direct employment in Ireland grew by a quarter (24%), with every region seeing gains. Notably, Lidl’s employment in the West increased by 57%, followed by the Border (52%) and the Mid‑West (51%) regions. Lidl’s operations are widely distributed across the country with much of its activities located in smaller towns and rural areas, providing vital employment opportunities in areas where they can often be scarce.
Over the last 25 years, Lidl has built a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading employers. It was the first nationwide employer to commit to paying the Living Wage in 2015 and has maintained this commitment over the last decade. Since 2022, Lidl has invested more than €47 million in pay increases for employees across Ireland, delivering an approximate cumulative increase of 23.5%. This equates to an average €8,000 in additional take home pay per employee, during the height of the cost-of-living crisis.
Capital Investment
Since making its debut in Ireland, Lidl has invested almost €2.4 billion in capital investment - €694 million (29%) of which has been made in the last five years as the retailer expanded in response to rising consumer demand.
In February 2025, Lidl committed to investing a further €600 million over the next five years, with the development of up to 35 new stores and a €200 million new regional distribution centre in Cork, reinforcing its commitment to Ireland’s economic future.
Lidl is a leader in sustainable retail development, recently announcing a €10 million investment in Ireland’s first Net Zero Energy store in Maynooth, set to open in November 2025, a significant milestone in Lidl’s commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050 across its entire supply chain.
Investing in Communities
For 25 years, Lidl has been a positive force in communities across Ireland, going beyond retail to create meaningful social impact. Through long-standing partnerships with national charities, Lidl has raised over €6 million to support vital causes including the Irish Heart Foundation, Barretstown, Jigsaw – the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, and its current charity partner, Family Carers Ireland. As part of this latest partnership, Lidl has pledged to raise €1 million over the next three years to support the essential work of unpaid family carers nationwide – a cause close to the hearts of employees and customers alike.
Lidl has been a driving force for equality in Irish sport through its sponsorship of the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association. Since 2016, Lidl has invested €10 million to elevate the profile of the women’s game, championing gender equality and celebrating female players as role models for future generations. This investment has been felt by communities across Ireland, supporting over 1,200 schools and youth teams nationwide, donating more than 30,000 jerseys, balls, and equipment, and providing cash support to over 60 local clubs.
Together, these initiatives reflect Lidl’s commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities across Ireland.
Welcoming the findings of this report, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, T.D. commented:
“I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Lidl on 25 successful years in Ireland. Their growth story has been truly remarkable — from a new entrant disrupting the Irish retail market to becoming a household name rooted in communities across the country. Their support for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and their emergence as one of Ireland’s most desirable employers reflects a deep and lasting commitment to Ireland, our economy and our people. A €997 million contribution to the Irish economy in 2024 alone speaks volumes about the scale of their impact. We are proud to have Lidl as part of Ireland’s business landscape, and I look forward to their continued success in the years to come.”
Reflecting on 25 years of Lidl in Ireland, Robert Ryan CEO of Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, added:
“As we mark 25 years of Lidl Ireland, we’re proud of all we have achieved in becoming a trusted household name in every community in Ireland. Since day one, our goal has been clear: to provide consumers with the highest quality produce at market-leading value, while operating sustainably and creating tangible, positive impacts in the communities we serve.”
“Today, we can clearly see the fruits of our labour with more than 186 stores located in nearly every town right across the country, three distribution centres and our head office in Dublin. I’m incredibly proud of the significant contribution we’ve made to the wider Irish economy, and, most importantly, the trust and loyalty of our customers, who vote with their feet and increasingly choose to shop with us.”
“Our consistent growth has fuelled our success. Fundamental to this has been the hard work and dedication of our outstanding employees across the country, as well as our incredible network of 1,800 Irish suppliers and business partners, who have grown alongside us. We are ambitious and optimistic about our future growth plans and have our sights firmly set on bringing our high-quality products, market-leading value and employment opportunities to more communities across the country over the next 25 years.”
