Shoppers flocked to check out the new Long Eaton Lidl which has replaced a store just a mile down the road in Chilwell. The 25-strong workforce has transferred to the purpose-built supermarket in Nottingham Road, moving from a unit at West Point Shopping Centre.
It will be Long Eaton’s fourth major supermarket, joining the ranks of Tesco, Asda and Aldi, and with smaller shops for Sainsbury’s, the Co-op and Morrisons it means shoppers have a wide choice when it comes to bargain hunting and convenience.
The new Lidl is 45 per cent bigger and one of the most popular sections is the bakery selling bread, pastries and cakes including limited edition football-themed muffins, just in time for the start of the 2024 Euros. The Middle of Lidl is also bigger and better, with all kinds of items including air fryers, paddling pools, gardening equipment, Henry vacuum cleaners and Peppa Pig toys.
As well as four manned tills there are also six self-service checkouts – a feature the Chilwell store didn’t have. And next to those are toilets for shoppers.
Store manager Andrew Gray said: “It’s been a real team effort to get this store where it is today – it’s here for the community and hopefully it will have a positive impact on everyone in Long Eaton.
“I’ve been at Chilwell for about four years prior to coming here but I have been with the company 15 years. It’s really exciting for us.
“We’ve come to a brand new store which has given us a lot of opportunity we didn’t have at Chilwell because of the size of the store. We can carry more stock and a more extensive range. The Middle of Lidl, a unique selling point for us as a company, has been extended – probably four times as much as we held before.”
He is confident that Chilwell shoppers will follow them to the new supermarket, saying: “We have had a lot of positive comments from our existing customers in Chilwell and they are all really excited about coming over.”
Jon and Jackie Brewster, of Sawley, usually shop at Aldi in Long Eaton or Lidl in Sandiacre. Jon said of the new store: “It’s impressive so far.” Jackie added: “There are a lot of things we buy from Lidl in Sandiacre that we can’t buy anywhere else so that’s why it’s quite nice to come here for those items.”
Paul Collins, from Ilkeston, was also an early customer. He said: “I had to fill up with fuel, I had no idea it was opening today, it’s a pure accident but I’ve come here out of curiosity.”
For Andrea and Tony Gent, the new shop couldn’t be more convenient. “We live just down the road,” said Tony. “I like the tools and the veg, I think it’s fresher.”
Andrea added: “We’ve seen it all being built from the beginning to the end. We’re looking forward to it. It’s perfect for us. I normally shop at Asda but what I do like about Lidl is the bakery section, I love all that.”
The story was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with pupils from Grange Primary School in Long Eaton and the Deputy Mayor of Erewash Harry Atkinson. He said: “It’s lovely to see this brownfield site return to something useful. The site has stood derelict since 2014 and has been redeveloped by a host of talented people.”
The former Chilwell store, which opened in 1994, has been up for sale since last September for £1.5m.
A short queue of shoppers formed for the 8am opening
The new store in Nottingham Road
The popular bakery section
Football-themed muffins
Fresh fruit
A variety of meat
The Middle of Lidl aisles
Gardening equipment in the Middle of Lidl
And Peppa Pig toys
Limited offers on frozen food
Self-service checkouts – a new feature