Rapid organic growth - Lidl to open another 220 stores by 2025

Lidl expects to open another 220 stores by 2025, creating 4,000 jobs and threatening the market share of established incumbents.

However, it's worth reflecting whether Lidl is a profit maximiser, as traditional theory would suggest, or if this sort of move suggests it's focusing on growth instead?

The company now has 6.2% market share in the UK grocery sector and around 880 stores nationwide and despite a tough trading environment seems to think that continuing to expand is a good thing.

Mintel's latest research on the size and growth of the discount grocery sector is interesting - they estimate the market is worth over £34 billion a year.