German discounter Lidl has chosen Portugal as the home of its two new customer-centric innovation hubs, called Lidlabs, investing €500,000 in the project.
Located adjacent to Lidl stores in Linda-a-Velha (Oeiras) and Agramonte (Porto), the global Innovation and Cooperation Centres allow customers to directly influence the development of Lidl’s food and non-food private -label products.
Unlike the existing Lidl Sense laboratory, these kitchen-like spaces in Porto and Oeiras are designed to feel more welcoming and encourage direct customer involvement.
Through the Lidl Plus app, customers can sign up to participate in focus groups, market research, and even recipe tastings.
Additionally, participants conduct blind taste tests, comparing Lidl products with competitors’ offerings, and evaluate them based on factors like taste, smell, texture, look, salt and sugar levels, fat content, and juiciness.
The goal is to improve 200 private label products annually.
This initiative reinforces Lidl’s commitment to its private label brands, which comprise 80% of its product range in Portugal, with a focus on local sourcing where possible.
This customer-centric approach aims to further refine Lidl’s product offerings and ensure they align with consumer preferences and trends.
Lidl Grows Share in Italy
Meanwhile in Italy, Lidl has captured 6% of the €132.1 billion modern retail market, according to the 2025 NielsenIQ Consumer Guide.
The modern distribution market in Italy is divided between hypermarkets (24.8%), supermarkets (41.7%), discount stores (23.8%), and self-service (9.6%).
Lidl’s growth is fuelled by substantial investments, totalling €3.5 billion over the past decade, with €2.1 billion in the last five years alone.
An additional investment of €1.5 billion is planned over the next three years to open 150 new stores, continuing the expansion that has already seen 23 stores open in the first two months of 2025.
Lidl aims to grow its network in Italy from 780 stores to 1,000 by 2030.
Via ESM