Lidl in Leitrim, Donegal & Sligo

Mars

Has anyone heard if there are any plans to open any new Lidl stores anywhere in Co.Sligo, Co.Leitrim or Co.Donegal?

Especially Bundoran or Ballyshannon?

AFAIK, there's a store in Letterkenny & in Donegal & Sligo towns.

Paddy20

Mars,

You know we would have had a new Aldi store in the Twin-Towns of Ballybofey & Stranorlar, but for the objections of a small group of local narrow minded greedy mafiosi?.. and then possibly followed by a Lidl as well.

Paddy

Dun

They were supposed to be coming to Buncrana, but similar councillors are supposed to have put an end to it. The same thing happened when Dunnes wanted to locate in Buncrana, but were turned down and went to Letterkenny. Would've been great for the area.

Goodshape

There's a Lidl (or is it Aldi?) being built on the 'new road' in Buncrana. Not sure what the story is with opening dates, or anything else for that matter.

Personally, I'm against these big all-encompassing stores. The prices may be cheaper, but I really don't think it's the local area that's going to benefits in the long run.

Dun

New road? I was beginning to think that that was a story that the Inish Times made up cause of lack of news or something! Is it still in the pipeline? Seems like it's about two years or so since I first heard about it and haven't heard a word since..

I don't think that Aldi/Lidl are particularly all-encompassing - far from it, they seem to offer a rather eclectic range of goods, and is by no means a place to go for all your weekly shopping. I don't go there often because the nearest one is Letterkenny (I don't count the one in Derry cause it's out of the question since the euro changeover for me), but when I go there I see a LOT of local people. You can't convince me that having such a store in Buncrana, and having people coming to it rather than going all the way up to Letterkenny is going to be bad for local business. I can see that it would be some competition but I think the likes of O'Donnell's and Bradley's would be able to hold their own, because they offer a more traditional range of goods, and of course they have sections like the butchery and bakery that Lidl/Aldi don't have.

Goodshape

Next time your in Buncrana, walk down by the new surgery (down from Ambakababra). You'll see the new road on the right. Constructions started on the Aldi store.. also, if you on down the new road, theres a section of shops that are all eerily empty and new looking.

Looks like the Twilight Zone or something...

Anyway, I do understand the need for wider choice, but Aldi and Lidl really aren't the best of company's.

Paddy20

In my experience, business competition is in the main good for the consumer. Particularly, in the food sector which is a vital part of every families life and overall living costs.

As I already stated, regretfully, before I was aware of it, the proposed Aldi store for the Twin- Towns had been blocked by a small group of well known greedy capitalist scoundrels who do not give a damn for anyones well being other than their own. Had I known what was going on behind closed doors I would have ensured that Aldi opened in Ballybofey/Stranorlar if they so wished.

They would have created well paid employment and introduced a very comprehensive range of foodstuffs at cheap prices. Something that is bably needed in this area where groceries are vastly overpriced and the majority of families are now forced for reasons of economy in controlling the family budget, to go to either Letterkenny or Strabane for their weekly shopping. So, the Twin Towns is currently losing out on jobs and the money that is now being spent elsewhere.

IMHO, Aldi are excellent for specials inc Computers etc, whereas when it comes to foodstuffs!.Then Lidl have the edge with their massive selection of incredibly fairly priced products.

P.;)

Dun

Originally posted by Goodshape
Next time your in Buncrana, walk down by the new surgery (down from Ambakababra). You'll see the new road on the right. Constructions started on the Aldi store.. also, if you on down the new road, theres a section of shops that are all eerily empty and new looking.

Looks like the Twilight Zone or something...

Anyway, I do understand the need for wider choice, but Aldi and Lidl really aren't the best of company's.

Better one than none Buncrana and the region really need the jobs, so I wouldn't complain if both opened. It's more the boost to the locality than wider choice. Though I suppose that's good too.

BTW, I know this is off topic, but do you have any idea what they're doing down the shore front with all the roadworks?

Goodshape

Well, I'm afraid I'm just an anti-capitalist type of guy. Aldi and Lidl are there solely to make profits. They're big multinational corporations that can afford to buy or produce products from wherever there cheapest and sell them on. The local shop doesn't have those kinds of options. There loss I suppose.. so what happins now? Some guy off in Germany is rolling about in money, while we have a few new shelf stalker positions... until it becomes economically viable to shut shop and move to another prosperous wee town.

Just my thoughts tbh.

But this is all off topic anyway, and there really isn't much point in arguing about it because we would never stop (the argument of "but it's cheap!" is a particularly tough one... it is, and there for, people will want it).



Didn't know there was roadworks down the shorefront.

Mars

afaik, Lidl & Aldi are family-owned businesses, I don't think they're owned by shareholders. Also, I don't think they do make massive profits in comparison to the amount of goods they sell. As they work on a small profit margin.

Hence, the lack of shopping baskets, staff, no telephone directory listing, in-store music - and not being based in the centre of town.

btw dun_do_bheal, I don't think the Derry Lidl is out of the question for you. You'd probably still save money.

If you look at the price of goods in Lidl on the Southern side of the border and convert these Euro prices into Sterling I think you can often find that the prices in the South are sometimes about 10% dearer than in the North.

So, even if you're paying to have your money changed from Euro to Sterling, if the goods in the Derry Lidl are maybe 10% cheaper it should possibly work out the same as if you had purchased from a Lidl on the Southern side of the border.

Paddy20

Most people that I know from the Buncrana area. Now get the bulk of their families weekly groceries in one visit to LIDL in Letterkenny, and are more than happy!.

P.;)

Eurorunner

but Aldi and Lidl really aren't the best of company's.

In what sense?

Personally, I'm against these big all-encompassing stores

Big??? Smaller than most Supervalus....smaller than Dunnes, Tescos, Superquinn, et al.

All encompassing?? I imagine that most people who shop at Lidl/Aldi also shop at one of the 'conventional' big supermarkets...simpy because Lidl/Aldi definitely are not all-encompassing.

For years we have been fed this guaranteed irish and buy irish pitch...which i was foolish enough to believe in...but now, when you see how much your being ripped off with people using this theme to keep their market share and fat profits..
Yes Lidl & Aldi are massive companies but they got that way for a reason...providing value for money.

Now who would choose being taken for a mug & ripped off everytime they go shopping as opposed to getting value for money from a supermarket that still makes a healthy profit for the service they provide.....

We need the equivalent of Aldis/Lidls in EVERY area of irish retailing & service industry.

Goodshape

I admit I was throwing Aldi / Lidl in with the likes of WalMart and Supervalue for the basis of the argument... perhaps that's not entirely fair.

But these are just my own views and concerns; I'm not an expert on the matter by any means. ...and I'm really not that interested in getting into a debate on capitalism.

Paddy20

Eurorunner,

Spot on!

Goodshape,

I am a confirmed and very commited socialist!. That is precisely why I like Aldi and Lidl. They are not [ripping off!] the ordinary working people. Something that I as a socialist regard as of primary concern. No need for a great debate.

I just wish I could state the same sentiments retailers in general and especially those retailers of groceries in particular, in my own home town.

Unfortunately, they throughout my lifetime have have shown that they are more concerned about the width of their wallets than giving the people fairly priced goods. Although things are slowly improving because people are now prepared to speak up and complain, and shop elsewhere. For value for money!.

P.

ednwireland

I do nearly all my shopping in lidl and it is significantly cheaper than supervalu (a contradiction or what ) i object to supervalu despite being a locally owned franchise until lidl opened it never used to run any special offers and was at one time the highest grossing supervalu per sq foot in the country. they are now rejoicing on the planning appael against a large development including a tesco here in donegal town and a dunnes being rejected as well (which was opposite the lidl and rejected on grounds that it would affect the town centre despite the huge council offices going in there)
paddy20 i agrre the local mafiosi in most irish small towns are anti competitiona nd only want to see development on their bits of land and the sooner these people are exposed, often hiding behind an taisce certainly here in doenagl town anyway the better

byte

Ah the Revlin development plan in Donegal! I am very annoyed that Revlin was objected to and refused yet again. I think it would have been good for Donegal Town. With the proposed shops and cinema (something donegal is really lacking), it was sure to be a success. I wonder who all objected to it? I know Musgrave/Supervalu were top of the objectors list! :mad:

Paddy20

byte,

You happen too mention the lack of Cinemas in Donegal. Very good point. Here in Ballybofey/Stranorlar we have a landmark building that was built originally in an "Art-Deco" style as the *Ritz Cinema.

It has been closed for very many years, and part of it is currently being used as a Theatre. Personally, I blame the ineptitude of the local (very secretive) group called - The Butt Hall Committee - who were set up many moons ago as a charitable Organisation with the responsibility of looking after community assets that had been been bequeathed too this communty by such people as Isaac Butt.

Another scandel waiting for some Journo to expose. Especially now that even the famous *Butt Hall is going to be knocked down and re-developed mainly for commercial business use.

P.:mad:

aodh_rua

Originally posted by dun_do_bheal
They were supposed to be coming to Buncrana, but similar councillors are supposed to have put an end to it. The same thing happened when Dunnes wanted to locate in Buncrana, but were turned down and went to Letterkenny. Would've been great for the area.

That was a long time ago? No disrespect to Buncrana - but did they really consider going there rather than Letterkenny?

Lukin Black

Originally posted by aodh_rua
That was a long time ago? No disrespect to Buncrana - but did they really consider going there rather than Letterkenny?

I've heard the same thing. This thread just shows that some things never change..