German supermarket making debut in U.S., pursuing N.J. locations

Lidl runs 10,000 supermarkets in 26 countries. The German-based company is hoping to open its first U.S. market by 2018.

Cumberland County could be saying willkommen to a new supermarket chain that originated in Germany and is breaking into the United States.

Lidl established an American corporate headquarters in Virginia last June in an effort to expand onto the Eastern Seaboard. The company was taking submissions for potential properties from as north as New Jersey all the way down to Georgia. According to Cumberland County officials, the supermarket chain is looking to open locations in Upper Deerfield, Millville and Vineland.

Lidl officials have already been before the Vineland Planning Board, according to Vineland Economic Development Director Sandy Forosisky. The location will be on Landis Avenue near Walmart and ShopRite.

"I think it's good for the west end and I think it will just bring more people there to shop," Forosisky said. "That will be a destination to go do you grocery shopping."

A potential Millville location would be located on the North 2nd Street, in the business corridor leading to Route 55, according to Freeholder Jim Quinn.

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"It's a ratable and it's interesting if you think about it because Millville and Upper Deerfield have both lost their Acmes," Quinn said.

Upper Deerfield Township's Acme Markets location closed in April and Millville's closed in 2011.

"It gives you another option besides just ShopRite to go to," Quinn said. "The more opportunity there is the better it is and the more competition the better for everybody."

According to Mayor Jim Crilley, Lidl has shown interest in a location near Carlls Corner in Upper Deerfield Township but officials have not appeared before the planning board yet.

When asked about future locations, Lidl spokesman William Harwood said that the supermarket chain is looking at a lot of different location possibilities as it expands into America.

"We're in that process right now where we are pursing sites and we plan to have open in the U.S. no later than 2018," Harwood said.

Lidl operates 10,000 stores in 26 countries but has not opened one in the United States. On its website, Lidl has a section where individuals can submit properties that fall under Lidl's criteria for a new location.

The stores will be approximately 36,000 square feet and have a minimum of 150 car parking spaces, according to the location criteria. Lidl prefers its supermarket to be position in an established retail location, have a densely populated area within three miles of the store and have a have more than 20,000 cars pass by the location a day.

"We are very excited to be coming and think it will be a great thing for customers to have the highest quality products at the best prices," Harwood said.