German Grocer Lidl just opened its first US stores, and the discounts are insane
83-cent eggs, 89-cent pineapples, and $1.29/lb chicken breasts are just some of the competitive prices Lidl is offering in its first week on the US market.
The Battle of Discount Supermarkets just got a formidable new opponent, with the grand opening of 10 US locations for German grocery giant Lidl on Thursday. You might already be familiar with its longtime rival Aldi, also a German supermarket player that's been slowly but surely growing its presence in the States ever since the late 1970's.
Following the first openings on the East Coast (mainly Virginia, North and South Carolina), Lidl plans to add at least 100 more locations in the next year. Despite its rookie status in the US, Lidl has actually been around for more than 40 years and currently has 10,000 other locations in 27 countries. It's known for deep discounts, fewer choices in a single product category and its use of in-house brands (covering 90% of its items).
Although Lidl is often housed in a small space (usually 20,000 square feet divided into six aisles), the American locations offer a 35% increase in square footage, eschewing exterior aluminum panels for floor-to-ceiling sized glass paneled windows.
The company plans to closely study consumer behavior in order to optimize its selection and cater directly to shoppers' needs. The American food retail industry has been embroiled in a food price deflation war for some time now, which is only likely to be aggravated further by the arrival of Lidl on the US market. That in turn might provoke price cutting at some of Lidl's main opponents, such as Kroger and Wal-Mart.
In addition to fresh produce, fresh and frozen meats, fish and poultry, gluten-free, organic and baked goods, the supermarket will sell home and lifestye merchandise that changes weekly, including clothing, toys, outdoor furniture, kitchen appliances and exercise gear.
With such offerings as 89-cent pineapples, 39-cent butter croissants and $3.49/lb Angus beef patties, consumers might be able to expect sweeping changes among competing supermarket chains trying to keep up.
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This Gluten-Free Broccoli Pizza is original, healthy and super tasty!
ingredients
- 1 head broccoli
- 1 egg
- 1 ¾ cups of your favorite shredded cheese (we recommend two types- 1 cup of one, ¾ cup of the other)
- 1 cup tomato sauce (or canned crushed tomatoes)
- ¾ cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 9 slices coppa ham
METHOD
- Cut the broccoli and boil until soft.
- Place the broccoli in a blender.
- In a bowl, add an egg and ¾ cup of shredded cheese, mix until solid.
- Form a ball and roll it flat on an oven tray.
- Bake in the oven for 20 min at 350° F.
- Once out of the oven, spread the tomato sauce evenly on the broccoli crust.
- Layer 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Place a layer of Coppa ham.
- Top off with of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Slide it back into the oven until the cheese melts.
- Serve!
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