Lidl Northern Ireland celebrates 25 years with new flagship Cookstown store

Design drawing of the new Lidl store in Cookstown

Lidl Northern Ireland is set to celebrate a major milestone in its 25-year history with the grand opening of a brand-new, state-of-the-art concept store in Cookstown on Thursday 26th June.

The new store marks a significant £8 million investment and replaces Lidl’s original Cookstown outlet, which was the first Lidl store to open in Northern Ireland back in 1999.

Located on Orritor Road, the 2,475-square-metre store reinforces Lidl’s continued commitment to the Mid Ulster town where its Northern Ireland journey began.

The development, which relocates operations from the current site at Station Square Retail Park, is the second new Lidl opening in Northern Ireland this June, following the launch of a sustainability-focused store in Newcastle.

The Cookstown opening will be marked by a celebratory event featuring former Northern Ireland football captain and Cookstown native Aaron Hughes, who will officially cut the ribbon and welcome customers through the doors.

Significant local investment and job creation

Lidl’s investment in the new store goes beyond bricks and mortar, adding 15 new jobs to the existing team and bringing total employment at the Cookstown site to 40 staff members. The wider project supported more than 150 jobs during the planning and construction phases.

Commenting on the upcoming opening, Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director for Lidl Northern Ireland, said:

“This is a truly special moment for Lidl Northern Ireland as we open our new Cookstown store next to where our very first Northern Ireland store began trading over 25 years ago.

“Since establishing Lidl here in 1999, we have grown to become a trusted retailer in communities across the region, and it’s fitting that we’re investing in this significant new store for the Cookstown community, where our journey began.

“What started as a single store has now expanded to 43 locations across Northern Ireland, serving 500,000 customers weekly and working with more than 60 local suppliers. This growth demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the region and our promise to continue delivering high-quality products at market-leading prices.

“The new Cookstown store represents not just our history but Lidl’s vision for our presence in Northern Ireland – a modern, sustainable shopping experience that meets the needs of today’s consumers while honouring our longstanding relationship with the local community.”

Sustainability at the heart

As part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s sustainability strategy, the new Cookstown store features a range of environmentally conscious innovations. These include energy-efficient LED lighting, heat pump technology, and solar PV panels to reduce carbon emissions.

These efforts align with Lidl’s corporate ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Customers will also benefit from enhanced amenities, including 110 car parking spaces and two electric vehicle (EV) charging points, ensuring an improved and eco-friendly shopping experience.

Looking ahead

The new Cookstown store embodies Lidl Northern Ireland’s transformation from a single-store operation in 1999 to a major regional player today.

With over four decades of retailing success in Europe and a quarter-century of service in Northern Ireland, Lidl’s investment in Cookstown underscores its confidence in the region’s continued growth and its loyalty to the communities that supported it from the start.

As Lidl prepares to welcome thousands of shoppers to the new location, this landmark store is set to become both a hub for the local community and a shining example of the retailer’s sustainable future.