Lidl (pronounced as [lee-dhll]) is a European discount supermarket chain of German origin that operates 7,000 stores. In Germany, it is Aldi's main competitor. The full name of the company is Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG. It belongs to the holding company Schwarz, which also owns the store chains Handelshof and Kaufland.
Lidl (l-E-dl) has established itself in over 17 countries. It was founded in the 1930s by a member of the Schwarz family; then called Schwarz Lebensmittel-Sortimentsgrosshandlung. In the 1970s, the first Lidl stores of today's incarnation opened.
In the UK Lidl is attempting to quickly increase market share, and has already opened over 500 stores.
Lidl are a very aggressive graduate recruiter. They are constantly advertising and targeting their jobs to graduates because trainees on their schemes suffer from very high burnout rate. Trainees are known to work 70 hours or more each week, usually over twelve hours every day and commonly work at weekends too.
Many graduate are unable to cope with this very hard work pattern and consequently leave before the end of the two year scheme.
Lidl are looking for graduates with good communication and management skills.
Lidl's three year graduate schemes offer training and development to trainees and should allow trainees to work in every area of retail and retail management.
There are three types of graduate management scheme available at Lidl:
This scheme involves having responsibility for running a multi-million pound district of up to five stores and leading and managing a team of more than 50 people.
This scheme involves leading a team of up to 25 people within a store-based environment. The scheme lasts between 12-24 months.
This 48 week placement enables candidates to gain experience working in Sales, Logistics, Property and Construction.