Announced at an event at Blackrock Observatory in Cork on 23 October, the investment centres on a new €200m regional distribution centre at Little Island, alongside plans for 14 new stores and the redevelopment of 10 existing locations across Munster. The event was attended by local suppliers, community partners and regional stakeholders.

The programme will support more than 4,500 construction workers across the 25 developments. Lidl currently employs more than 1,300 people across Munster, with its permanent workforce in the region expected to exceed 1,800 once the programme is delivered.

A long-term commitment to Cork and Munster

The €420m regional programme represents a significant part of Lidl’s wider €600m 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 €136m 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 at the announcement event in Cork, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “This €420m 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 €420m investment will strengthen our infrastructure across the region, create more than 500 permanent jobs and support thousands more during construction. The €306m 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 €136m 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 €200m 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 of organisations involved in Lidl’s wider community support in Cork. These included its official charity partner, Family Carers Ireland; former Cork LGFA All-Ireland winner and Lidl Serious Support Programme mentor Deirdre O’Reilly; and 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 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 €997m 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.

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