LIDL has confirmed that its first-ever store in Crediton will officially open earlier than a recently announced date.

It had been scheduled to open on February 6 but that was delayed due to a planning error.

A further anticipated opening date was given for April but Lidl now says that the store will open on Thursday, March 20.

The new store, on Commercial Road, will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays, offering the community access to Lidl’s award-winning range of high-quality, great-value products.

Local shoppers can also look forward to Lidl Plus offers and complimentary food sampling throughout the opening weekend.

Spanning 1,256m², the store will include the discounter’s renowned in-store bakery, the popular Middle of Lidl, and customer facilities such as toilets with baby-changing stations.

Outside, there will be ample parking for both cars and bicycles, as well as electric vehicle charging points, while solar panels on the roof will help power the store.

This multi-million-pound investment will improve convenience for shoppers in the area, while boosting the local economy by creating around 40 new jobs.

New starters will benefit from Lidl’s industry-leading pay, with newly increased rates having come into effect this month, reinforcing the company’s commitment to its workforce.

Rosie Meehan, Regional Head of Property at Lidl GB, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the opening date of our first store in Crediton. Commercial Road is an ideal location for us to provide top-class convenience for residents, meaning they’ll no longer need to travel to Exeter to access our offering – saving both time and fuel.

“This project has been a true team effort, and we’re proud to bring our best-value offering to the community. We look forward to welcoming shoppers through our doors in the coming weeks.”

For more than three decades, Lidl says it has continually delivered its unbeatable combination of quality and affordability to shoppers across Great Britain.

With more customers choosing to shop at Lidl, the discounter has consistently been named the fastest growing bricks-and-mortar supermarket for over a year.

It had been widely publicised that the new supermarket would open on February 6, with the date advertised on a large billboard and on leaflets delivered by Royal Mail.

Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain. Its new Crediton store was granted planning permission in September 2022.

It has been built on a part of The Rec, the playing fields owned by Queen Elizabeth’s Education Foundation. Lidl paid £800,000 to Queen Elizabeth’s Education Foundation for the site.

The new store will have as many as 114 parking spaces. The site will also include two electric vehicle charging points and 12 bicycle parking spaces.

Planning conditions included a payment of £87,289 to assist with the flow of traffic through the Western Gateway, St Lawrence Green and the High Street to address air quality within the Crediton Air Quality Management Area.

Lidl has also paid £400,000 to help relocate Crediton Rugby Club and £100,000 to Devon County Council to provide a zebra crossing on Commercial Road.