Lidl NI staff to get £200 bonus as firm adds 170 new jobs

Bonus: Maeve McCleane, Lidl director of human resources

Emma Deighan Twitter Email

January 26 2021 08:30 AM

Lidl staff across Northern Ireland are set to cash in on a £300k Covid employee bonus scheme as the supermarket announces the creation of a further 170 jobs.

Each staff member will receive a minimum of £200 each, "in recognition of their continued hard work and commitment throughout the pandemic".

A spokeswoman said: "Every team member employed as of December 31 will receive a minimum payment of £200, in recognition of their continued dedication to supporting the communities we operate in across the region."

The bonus scheme was announced as the grocer - which has 40 stores here - said it will be filling 170 new posts over a variety of operational and office-based roles to support its 40 stores and regional distribution centre in Nutt's Corner, Co Antrim.

The new roles are part of Lidl's growth and will expand the retailer's workforce to over 1,200 staff. They come with "market-leading benefits package" including learning, development and progression opportunities.

The retailer has remained open throughout the pandemic - and has also avoided many of the shortages which have affected other supermarkets here since the end of the Brexit transition period.

It said it had also exported Northern Irish produce to its network of more than 10,500 stores in Europe.

Those exports included a £24m deal with Fermanagh's Crust & Crumb who supply Lidl's premium pizza range.

Lidl, which at 19.7% had the strongest sales growth for 2020 out of all supermarkets here, made the announcements after receiving the Top Employers Institute Top Employer for 2021 accolade.

The certification, held by global brands including PepsiCo, Adidas and Heineken, celebrates an organisation's "dedication to a better world of work".

Maeve McCleane, director of human resources at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: "Our most important asset has always been our people, and 2020 has reinforced that they are in fact the bedrock of our business, which is why we have prioritised building not only an exceptional place to work, but also an inclusive, rewarding and fulfilling culture at Lidl for our employees."

In November Lidl announced an investment of £32m in five stores in greater Belfast, adding 100 new permanent jobs and supporting up to 1,000 during construction. The new locations are at Castlereagh Road, Hillview Retail Park on Crumlin Road, Boucher Road, Holywood Exchange and Shore Road.

Holywood Exchange has already opened. The current Lidl at Castlereagh Road is to close and a new concept store will be built nearby, while its Shore Road store will also be rebuilt.

Lidl NI staff to get £200 bonus as firm adds 170 new jobs

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