Lidl Chats

In 1999 we opened the doors to our very first store on the island of Ireland so for this episode we take a nostalgic journey through 25 amazing years, from our humble beginnings with one store in Co. Tyrone to today being one of Northern Ireland’s best loved supermarkets. We chat to Sarah McKenna, Lidl NI’s Sales Operations Director, all about our position in Northern Ireland today while Jordan from our Lisburn Store talks to us about raising incredible funds for our charity partners. Some of our earliest team members share their secrets for a long career in Lidl and Scott Nelson delves into our property and construction plans for the future. Plus, a special guest chats to customers in the Cookstown store!

Join us as we celebrate the incredible people who make up our Lidl DNA, ensuring that we are the 1st Choice destination for customers, suppliers and colleagues alike. In this episode of Lidl Chats, we hear about the many colleague benefits, policies and development opportunities that have earned us a spot on the Top Employers list. Dive deep with us into our Employee Resource Groups, as we discover how they champion our communities and how anyone at all can get involved. Plus, hear an inspiring story from Tara O’Connor, Regional Managing Director, about the remarkable teamwork and resilience shown during the flooding caused by Storm Babet in 2023.

At Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland we champion dozens of small businesses all over the island of Ireland every year through our Kickstart Supplier Development Programme. In this episode of Lidl chats we’ll learn all about how we support these talented suppliers, helping them to thrive and grow. The Responsible Sourcing team chat to us about their crucial role in ensuring that all of our products are sustainably sourced and packaged while sharing their expert tips for us all to live more sustainably.

Since 2016, we’ve been proud supporters of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into this impactful partnership. Join us as Eimear O’Sullivan, Director of Corporate Affairs, discusses the eye-opening research behind our Get Behind the Fight campaign. Our Marketing colleagues Tom Mughal and Linda Fitzgerald share behind-the-scenes stories from the 2024 campaign shoot, and the coach from Coláiste Cholmcille, winners of our School Stamp Card Competition, gives us the inside scoop on their €50k prize. Plus, we have special guest appearances from three of our inspiring Lidl LGFA Ambassadors.

Lidl is world famous for its Middle Aisle – that magical place where you discover products you didn’t think or know you needed. In this episode, we speak to Jason Gunning Non-Food Senior Planner to learn how we choose what goes into that special place in every store, who is responsible for buying these often-quirky items and how we react to what is on trend in the market. 

In 1999, Lidl opened the doors of the first store in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. In this episode of Lidl Chats, we meet a man who has been with the company since those early days. Darren Devine joined Lidl 21 years ago as a Customer Assistant. Now Sales Operations Director, he talks about his interesting career in a fast-paced retail environment. He also reflects on how Lidl has evolved over the last two decades, shares his thoughts on some of the challenges he’s seen along the way and answers some burning questions from our colleagues. We also hear from Lidl customers on how their perceptions of Lidl has changed over the years.

In this episode of Lidl Chats we dive into the fascinating world of Corporate Social Responsibility. We learn what it’s all about and meet the people driving our CSR initiatives forward. Elaine O’Connor, Head of CSR tells us all about Lidl’s approach to food waste and how everyone in the business plays a part in delivering our CSR ambitions. We also speak to Rory O’Connell in Food Cloud who highlights the impact the partnership has on charities and community groups around the country and how Lidl supports their vision to live in a world where no good food goes to waste. 

At Lidl, we have four Regional Distribution Centres servicing our 200+ stores, ensuring that we have products on their shelves for our customers. In this episode of Lidl Chats, we go behind the scenes of the warehouse and meet Ivan Magee Logistics Director, Ian Moran Deputy Logistics Manager, Barry McEntee Warehouse Supervisor and Kylie Vidal Warehouse Operative who give us the inside track on the running of our biggest distribution centre in the town of Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

A Lidl taste of what's coming up in this series...