German retailer Lidl will start building a pilot outlet in the city of Lovech, Northern Bulgaria, the company said. Work on a further five outlets will begin by the end of 2008, folowed shortly by the start of construction of five more Lidl stores.

The discount-segment retailer hopes to have 10-12 open outlets in Bulgaria by 2010.

The company will also invest in a distribution center, the land for which has already been bought, although the company is yet to disclose its location.

Lidl is part of Schwarz Unternehmensgruppe, which already has already stepped on the Bulgarian market though the Kaufland chain.

Market research outfit Planet Retail has recently said that discount retailers are expected to own four percent of the Bulgarian grocery market.

Penny Market and Plus are two discount retailers that will enter the Bulgarian market in the near future.

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