The local unit of German retailer Lidl has won a competition for a 4892 sq m plot of municipal land in Pazardjik, southern Bulgaria. The company plans for the supermarket to have a built-up area of 1500 sq m and 70 parking spaces.

Lidl Bulgaria upped its bid on the plot to 1.722 million leva from the initial offer of 1.5 million leva. The company is to build the supermarket in nine months. As part of the deal, Lidl Bulgaria has undertaken to invest 350 000 leva in renovating the sporting venues of the nearby Hebar complex.

The other candidates for the site were Immobilia Bulgaria Commerce, bidding on behalf of German retailer Plus Discount, and Rila Proekt on behalf of retailer Penny-Markt.

Lidl is known for its low prices and minimal floor staff assistance; tactics like giving customers the task of opening the containers in which items were shipped once on the store floor helps keep costs down.

The multi-national chain belongs to the German holding company Schwarz, which also owns the store chains Handelshof and Kaufland.

This will be the first Lidl outlet in Bulgaria.