This I think can only be good news for this region of Bulgaria, the Germans are very shrewed investers and they know a good thing when they see one so maybe things are changing now for the good

Bulgarian real estate fund FairPlay Properties and Lidl Bulgaria signed a deal on the sale of a 22 000 sq m plot in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on September 30 2009.

Lidl Bulgaria is the local arm of German hard discounter Lidl, part of Schwarzgruppe.

The transaction had a price tag of 2.3 million euro before value-added tax.

The plot would accommodate a Lidl supermarket and was part of the chain's local expansion efforts.

The retailer has been actively growing its Bulgarian network with new outlets in Lovech, Pazadjik, Pleven and Silistra currently under construction.

The Plovdiv plot is part of FairPlay's Retail Park Trakia developmen, which is planned in the city's residential area by the same name.

Fairplay said the park would house a hypermarket of a renown European non-food chain, though the company refused to name the chain.

Sources told Dnevnik that the property fund was in talks with several big retailers but pen had not put to paper yet.

FairPlay would use the proceeds of the sale to reduce its credit exposure, executive director Manyu Moravenov said.

After the Plovdiv deal, Fairplay has repaid 5.4 million euro in principals since the start of 2009.

This can only be good news both for the economy and the Bulgarians and surely this is an indication of things getting better? I don't think that a company like Lidl are going to spend so much without looking at the long term, so for me this is good news :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Whilst not personally being a fan of supermarkets in general prefering our village shop, this has got to be important news for Bulgaria. If such a big company sees a future in investing here it bodes well for the future. I have kept to my opinion that it is still worth investing in Bulgaria for the long term. Problem for many was that they were looking for a quick buck. Only the lucky few ever manage this.

I agree with what your saying here this can only be good news for all in Bulgaria and for those of us making the move after all said and done you wouldn't put your money on a horse with 3 legs now would you? so this kind of news pleases me very much, but I also see that its not the only thing that I will be looking at before I make my final decision? thanks for your comments oldun

sarah

This can only be good news for the long term for Bulgaria and its people

So sad to admit that I will be making a visit to Plovdiv to see the Roman amphitheatre and the New Lidyls when it opens....

All good stuff this as already said if the big boys think its ok then why should we question the long term possibilities for Bulgaria I love the place

It seems that it is the in thing for German Companies. Penny's, the discount arm of Billa are just putting the finishing touches to a big distribution centre outside Stlonik, near Elin Pelin, so the Germans must think that Bg is a good investment.

Way to go Brilliant news!!! I will keep my fingers cross Lidl will come up our way Silistra or even Varna would be good. Gosh can you imagine the stuff we could buy for the children in the Orphanages there, especially the sweets and juices and crisps and and and and !!!! Oops!! overload

Oddy

Furthermore Lidl are investing a minimum 25million euros in a Logistics and Administration centre outside Sofia. This will eventually become the headquarters for Lidls operations in Bulgaria.

2 stores are now planned for Pleven, with further locations being Vidin, Rousse, Veliko Turnovo, Lovech and Pazardjik.

Great news for Bulgaria and even better for people like me who adore the Lidl concept!!

I think its always good to read these kind of posts and the reason being that if the bigger companies are investing so much into Bulgaria then things and only be looking good for the future after all they wouldn't have done it without spending a fortune on research

Indeed, Having spent most of my life in Retail Management I know Lidl well and they only enter a market that they fully believe in and think they will get a good return from. A company I admire, but wouldn't want to work for!!

On a wider note at least this will make the current operators in Bulgaria up their game and that is greatly needed in terms of service, quality, value and food offering, something sorely lacking here at the moment. To see Bulgarians eating some different foods other than the narrow range currently can only be a good thing.

Very well put James
ATB

[size=75:2ypqx3lp]Regal 22 December 2009

Lidl buys Plus in Bulgaria and Romania?

Discount chain Lidl, owned by Germany's retail group Schwarz Group, is interested to purchase the recently launched business in Bulgaria Plus. It reported Lebensmittel Zeitung (LmZ), quoted by planetretail.net, by not naming sources.

By Tengelmann, the parent company of Plus, have confirmed they are negotiating the sale of its operations in both countries, but still no final decision.

At the time of Plus sites in Bulgaria are 16. Lidl plans to launch its business in the country during the spring of 2010

Apart from Bulgaria, Lidl plans to acquire Network Plus stores in Romania, which currently consists of nearly 80 sites and plans ready to build another 20.

Lidl has announced plans to open 50 sites in Romania, expected early in 2010 Possible realization of the transaction will become a leader in Lidl discount on the Romanian market within a few months, with a potential network of 150 shops, comment from LmZ .

In 2007 and 2008 Plus sold its business in most European countries. Currently the chain has been active in Austria, Romania and Bulgaria, with divisions in those countries in May 2008 in hodling are united under the name Plus Eastern Europe.

would be nice to have a lidles here