CHAOS reigned in shopping areas yesterday as German Supermarket chain LiDL opened its doors to customers for the very first time.
Hundreds of Cypriot consumers made their way to the stores excited to see if LiDL would keep its promise of ‘quality buys at smart prices’.
LiDL has spent over €1.2 million in advertising in October alone and on yesterdays showing it looks like money well spent. At one point at the LiDL store in Pallouriotissa in Nicosia customers were refused entry as the store was already crowded. A security guard working outside the store said: “It was just a precaution; we were just waiting for some customers to come out so it didn’t get too crowded.”
Around the Pallouriotissa store parking was impossible to find as the LiDL underground and ground floor parking areas were totally full as was the large field opposite the shop. Not surprisingly the car park at Athienitis supermarket, which is only a stone’s throw away seemed uncharacteristically vacant.
The atmosphere around LiDL was more reminiscent of a carnival as the supermarket had employed magicians, a disk-jockey and a bouncing castle for children. There was even a barbeque stand as employees’ prepared free chicken and sausages from in-house brands for customers.
Outside some customers were getting irritated as there where no shopping trolleys available and people lining up to pay inside confirmed that they were standing in queues for more than 20 minutes.
Prices on most products appeared low and the majority of customers seemed happy even though some left empty handed. “It looks like it’s the cheapest by far and I am very impressed” said Maroulla Eliades 68, however when asked if she planned to make it her regular store she said; “I am not sure yet I need to have a better look around, I am not sure it has everything I need. I will come back another day and do some shopping. It’s way too busy today. I have my grandchildren with me so it’s not ideal.”
Another customer, Moa Fredriksson 25 from Sweden said: “this store (Pallouriotissa) is a lot smaller than the LiDL branch in Stockholm which is massive, but it is much cheaper than the other Cypriot supermarkets. When I first came to Cyprus I was shocked at how expensive food is in this country. Hopefully now all the stores will lower their prices.”
Lidl has opened a total of seven stores on the island. Three of the stores are based in Nicosia in Lakatamia, Pallouriotissa and Kokkinotrimithia. One has opened in Limassol, one in Larnaca, one in Aradippou and one more in Paralimni.
