Lidl Ireland today announced a major €420 million investment programme for Munster, including €306 million earmarked for County Cork, as the retailer sets out plans to significantly expand its operations, employment and long-term contribution across the region.
The investment was announced at an event at Blackrock Observatory in Cork, attended by local suppliers, community partners and regional stakeholders. At the centre of the programme is Lidl’s new €200 million state-of-the-art regional distribution centre at Little Island, alongside plans for 14 new stores across Munster and the redevelopment of 10 existing locations.
The programme will create more than 500 permanent jobs across Munster, including 250 in Cork, while supporting more than 4,500 construction workers across the 25 developments. Lidl currently employs more than 1,300 people across Munster. Once the programme is delivered, its permanent workforce in the region is expected to exceed 1,800 colleagues.
A long-term commitment to Cork and Munster
The €420 million regional programme represents a significant part of Lidl’s wider €600 million five-year investment programme in Ireland, through which the retailer intends to open up to 35 additional stores nationwide.
The investment extends beyond Lidl’s own store and logistics network. In 2025 alone, Lidl procured €136 million worth of produce from 120 Cork-based suppliers, including Keohane Seafoods, Castlecor Potatoes and Irish Yogurts, demonstrating the scale of its existing contribution to the local food and drink economy.
Speaking about today’s announcement event in Cork, Taoiseach Michéal Martin said, “This €420 million investment in Munster represents a significant commitment to Ireland.
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.
I particularly welcome the creation of more than 500 new permanent jobs, bringing further opportunities for people and communities across Munster."
Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, said:
“Today is about much more than opening new stores. It is a statement of our long-term confidence in Cork, in Munster and in the communities and businesses that have supported Lidl throughout our growth in Ireland.
“This €420 million investment will strengthen our infrastructure across the region, create more than 500 permanent jobs and support thousands more during construction. The €306 million we are investing in Cork alone reflects the importance of the county to our future.”
Mr Ryan continued: “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.”
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 here 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. We are incredibly excited about what this investment will mean for our colleagues, customers and communities right across Cork.”
Investing in communities as well as infrastructure
The announcement was made alongside representatives from several organisations that reflect Lidl’s wider community support in Cork, including its official charity partner, Family Carers Ireland, former Cork LGFA All Ireland winner and Lidl Serious Support Programme Mentor Deirdre O’Reilly, and strategic Cork supplier, Keohane Seafoods.
Lidl marked a decade of its sponsorship of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association this year and continues to support Family Carers Ireland through its national charity partnership. The retailer is also investing in the future sustainability of its network, with new Lidl stores incorporating modern energy-management systems, renewable-energy infrastructure and EV charging.
Since entering Ireland in 2000, Lidl has grown to more than 192 stores, three regional distribution centres and more than 6,300 direct employees, while supporting a further 5,500 jobs through its supplier and business-partner network.
An independent study by Oxford Economics found that Lidl contributed €997 million to Irish GDP in 2024. Lidl has invested more than €2.5 billion in capital in Ireland since entering the market and procured more than €2 billion in goods and services from Irish suppliers and business partners in 2025.
