A peek through the window late Wednesday as a worker makes final preparations for Thursday’s opening.
Jon Springer
Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light and peek inside as Lidl prepares to open.
Jon Springer
Lidl US CEO Brendan Proctor with Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore as they cut the ribbon at the Virginia Beach location.
Jon Springer
Brendan Proctor at the entrance of a Lidl store. Shoppers first confront floor displays of “Fresh 5” specials like pineapples and watermelons. The bakery is at the left.
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Grilled veggie pizza bread and focaccia were among the offers in the store-made but self-service bakery that greets shoppers at the store.
Jon Springer
Vegetables merchandised in their shipping boxes in the produce department.
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A display of organic and conventional bananas.
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Proctor stands before a first aisle carrying what he said could provide shoppers with 80% of their basic food shopping needs.
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A view from the rear of the first aisle, this time with plenty of shoppers. Meat and seafood to the left; dairy and deli to the right.
Jon Springer
These eggs at 83 cents per dozen weren’t necessarily the cheapest in town, SN found. A nearby Kroger Marketplace was selling 18 eggs for 99 cents. (A Lidl spokesman who contacted SN following publication of this piece said its cheapest eggs -- not pictured here -- were priced at 55 cents per dozen.)
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Graphics on Lidl’s seafood case highlight quality certifications. There’s no fishmonger on duty
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USDA rib-eyes.
Lidl
A shot illustrating the meat offering from Lidl’s store in Greenville, N.C.
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A variety of chilled craft beers under exclusive labels is one differentiator for Lidl’s U.S. stores, officials said. The Craft Explorers IPA pictured here appears to be associated with the Foothills Brewery in Winston-Salem, N.C.
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Lidl displayed 120 varieties of wine in-store and highlighted award-winning selections and picks of its director of wine, Adam Lapierre.
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Gluten free flours, crusts and baking mixes to compete with Aldi’s Live G Free line.
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Organic offerings in shelf-ready cases. These items are available in a dedicated aisle as well as mixed with conventional offerings.
Jon Springer
A display of Lidl’s Ultra Strong private brand paper towels merchandised alongside a display of a Bounty branded counterpart. The offering provides brand-loyal shoppers a choice, but emphasizes the value of switching, Proctor said.
Jon Springer
While many of Lidl’s private-brand offerings ape the packaging style of branded counterparts, or utilize common private brand line names, this mustard is just … mustard.
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A variety of yard care items from the Florabest house brand, including this $8.99 garden sprayer, were on display in a large general merchandise section in the rear of the store.
Jon Springer
In front of glazed-glass windows, 11 checkout lanes buzzed with activity.
Jon Springer
Jon Springer
A trailer touts freshness and the “Rethink Grocery” tagline shoppers will find in ads and in-store.