Lidl to open three stores in Malta, planning another three

Daniela Klein

Sep 29th 2010, 11:55

message 2 (continued)

'Of course', they said, 'this is not an excuse' and they assured me that they will put things right.

Doesn't it interest the management of Lidl Malta how their supermarkets are advertised abroad?

Daniela Klein

Sep 29th 2010, 11:53

I wonder if Lidl Malta manager David Gatt looks at the way Lidl Malta is advertised abroad.

While doing my shopping at a Lidl store in Essen, Germany, recently I came upon a little brochure advertising the Lidl stores abroad. I was curious to see if Malta is mentioned so I took a brochure and leafed through it looking for Malta. Malta was listed - but under Italy!!! The page title bore 'Italien' (Italy) and listed underneath were the cities where one can find a Lidl store in Italy. This list included a place in Sicily (ok, thats Italy too) and Malta! This made me a little bit angry. I took the brochure home with me, went to the Lidl website listed on the brochure and wrote an email to Lidl with my complaint.

Not much later I got a reply with an apology. Lidl explained that all the advertising for Malta is taken care of by their branch in Italy and since there was not enough space in the brochure it was decided to put Malta with Italy.

malcolm seychell

Apr 5th 2008, 22:23

I think that our market is limited compared to others but its a free market after all.

Mrs Nash told us to learn from mistakes did by other eurpean countries.

Well she is 100% right, but unfortunately we do not learn anything until we face the trouble ourself

Reuben Micallef

Apr 5th 2008, 19:28

Mr.Demanuele. I find that I have not been understood as I should have been. Besides using sarcasm in the first part, I used the words that the media will make us swallow to accept this project. First of all, the European Union's intervention in this project is quite unclear. Perhaps it is a project for us. Who knows? So you are saying that thing about friends...right? I have been wondering about what people will get from all these super markets. So...reduced prices, better choice and better quality of products. So can someone explain to me what are the other existant super markets in Malta are doing here if they aren't supplying these things already? Regarding the amount of people who wil be directly employed by this project seems that have been over stated by me,''..by a zero.'' So 50 souls are going to find a job with Lidl. Isn't it nice to hear these news. The thing that confuses me is this...if all these people are going to be employed with these super markets, then Lidl is already presuming a success in our island. This means that their target audience is going to shift from the other super markets to Lidl. This if not mistaken will mean that the other super markets will find a problem in their financial aspect and as a result will fire people. Perhaps not. Maybe this will create a fair competition which will transmit itself in lower prices ...I think this is what you where going to say, right?? Doesn't this also mean that people of Smart, Tower and Carter will find a harder bone? Maybe I am mistaken to think about these negative things. We will see. Besides this, it is true that no 'Maltese shareholders' will be involved in this project. Is it true there are some who believe that no Maltese 'Bigs..'' will have a piece of the cake? So,..no Maltese interest. So, what about Mr.Polidano. Is he there just to ''..offer a vast choice at a better price at consumers...''? Finally, it have to be stated that as a matter of fact Malta cannot 'swallow' all these super markets. I am now concentrating on its size. The environmental aspect of it seems to be put aside. Do people know where will these super markets be built? We know the towns and villages, but not the street names. Would you as a resident be happy with a super market near you? Think! See the traffic part and the pollution part. I am open to new ideas. Thanks

Joe Fountain

Apr 5th 2008, 11:21

i m with veronica nash on this one

effie carbonaro

Apr 4th 2008, 23:04

hooray polidano,now he has bought us lidl in malta.rumours are that his next target is that he will take control of fuel .perhaps we will see shell and esso or agip.hooray again to polidano

Andreas Reiff

Apr 4th 2008, 17:29

My Maltese wife and I moved from Germany to Malta in 1995, and since then we have been missing high quality products for low prices, such as those we were used to find at Lidl Germany. It is time that the Maltese importers of goods will face some true competition and will be forced to reduce their exorbitant profits. I hope that Lidl will sell its products not along the prices we are used to over here, but along the prices they charge in Italy and elsewhere. Small shops have to diversify, e.g. to specialise in organic food. The small family-run businesses in Germany, which adjusted themselves to the situation are doing better than ever. And here in Malta the concept of big supermarkets is not new. Although there is a big supermarket in Mellieha, there are still numerous small shops for the daily needs which did not close down.

Andrew Demanuele

Apr 4th 2008, 14:46

Yes Mr. Micallef I would like to help you to find a few solutions to the numerous issues that are losing you sleep. But you confused me not little when first you said that we need not walk a KM to find a supermarket, but then in the same breath you are worried about traffic jams!!That's beyond me.
I also think you added an extra zero behind the actual 50 jobs so far created by this supermarket. It also seems by your detailed analysis that EU membership is really working wonders since now we have friends of friends even away from our shores. Please take a look at the article by The Times where it said clearly that this chain has 'no Maltese shareholders'. So where do we stand to benefit? Ah yes, it will not be the few entrepreneurs (even though they will make their deserved profit) but us consumers including you ( unless you have friends of friends which may be their competitors)that will benefit from increased competition & all its externalities.

C.R.Taliana

Apr 4th 2008, 10:33

I've seen LIDL in Italy. They sell good quality products and the prices are really l low. However I always wonder why the Sliema, Gzira, St.Julians, Ta'Xbiex area is never attractive when it comes to build such Supermarkets.

veronica nash

Apr 4th 2008, 09:26

Having lived in Holland, UK for many years it was a relieve to get away from the impersonal environmentally unfriendly prepacked multi stores so prevalent in the rest of Europe.The last 5 years in Malta we enjoyed the personal touch of the small shops, the lack of processed, prepacked plastic food. Now we are confronted once again with so called progress!!! People in UK are asking again for small suppliers, organic growers and are voting with their feet and are trying to buy their groceries from independent organic farms etc.
All small family run shops have more or less disappeared and so has the village spirit and heart.
Now Lidl, next Aldi and it is only a matter of time before Tesco & friends take a look at Malta.
A very sad affair.
Please support your local small shops. Once they have been put out of business by the 'big boys' they will not return.
Look at the rest of Europe and learn from their mistakes!!!

Joe Martinelli

Apr 4th 2008, 05:44

Mr. Micallef, I remember the good old days. I remember having to go to a grocery store for canned goods, dairy products such as cheese bought by the ounces, pasta and legumes wrapped in newspaper, and then off to the butcher to get some meat, and then to a makeshift vegetable market to get the greens and all this time the fat from the cheese soaked its paper wrapper and by the time you finished shopping, your groceries were half cooked. But, we did not have a traffic problem, cars were much fewer since fewer could afford them and thank heaven very few died from salmonella or bocculism.
Today, you can go to a supermarket, get all your necessities, all vac packed or in air tight cellophane bags, refrigeration counters display all the meats and cheeses in a hygenic environment free from flies and other pests, then you hop in your car and in reasonable time reach your home.
Would you rather live in those good old days?
There is always a price to pay for what we now call 'convenience'. We asked for it, after all.

Reuben Micallef

Apr 3rd 2008, 20:53

Right! So now we have given the permission. Yes, we in Malta need all these super markets. It is such a hassle for us poor Maltese to go a perhaps less than a kM away from home to buy ham and cereals. We are so lucky that big companies feel so much compassion for us that they want to help us. So,..one in Zabbar, other in Luqa, St.Venera and...here else 'cause I forgot?! Haven't we ruined ourselves enough? Apparently not! There are a lot of people around us who cannot lose a chance of making profits. After all, we will listen to the same old words to make people swallow a sour medicine. 'PAYED' media networks will say ''...more than 500 jobs will be created thanks to this project. Malta was chosen for its good market segments and a ...bla,bla,bla...''
Please, someone tries to convince me that I am mistaken in thinking that other parts of Malta will be ruined for ever. Do convince me that people living near these future projects won't be affected negatively by traffic jams, sun being blocked by tall buildings and noise. Will the project be give permission because some 'friends' have other 'friends' that have 'friends' that.... Please do tell that these are things I just imagine and that in Malta these things do not happen.