Lidl to seek planning for €200m regional distribution centre in Cork, retailer to also open two new stores 

An estimated 1,000 jobs could be created in Cork following the announcement that retailer Lidl is to seek planning permission to develop a €200m regional distribution centre (RDC) in Little Island.

The retailer also has plans to develop stores in Douglas, with ambitions to develop a store in Carrigtwohill and other outlets in Cork city to add to the 22 already in the county, a spokesperson told The Echo last night.

The proposed RDC in Little Island, with an expected completion date in 2030 if granted permission, will be the fourth of its type in Ireland and the second in Cork.

The retailer also has regional distribution centres in Charleville, Newbridge, and Mullingar.

A spokesperson for Lidl said it was “too early to speculate on how many jobs will be supported by the Little Island RDC but based on Lidl’s other RDCs, it is typically around 1,000 jobs”.

Lidl Ireland regional managing director for Munster Tara O’Connor said the company had “ambitious expansion plans” to increase its store footprint across Munster and the southeast region over the next five years.

“It is a really exciting time for Lidl as we look to make a significant investment to future-proof our logistical infrastructure with a new, state-of-the-art regional distribution centre at Little Island,” said Ms O’Connor.

“There are many other stores in the pipeline at various stages of the planning process, so this investment in a new distribution centre is vital to meet the future needs of the business and to ensure we can continue to provide great value to our customers across the region.”

Cork North-Central TD and the minister of state at the Department of Health, Colm Burke, said the “investment of over €200m by Lidl in Little Island is very welcomed”.

Welcoming the investment, Fianna Fáil Cork North-Central TD Pádraig O’Sullivan said Little Island was continuing to be the “driver of economic growth and foreign direct investment in the wider region”.

“With the upgraded Dunkettle Interchange catering for projects like this, I also think it’s important to keep an eye on the growing infrastructure needs of Little Island also,” he said.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry welcomed the jobs boost, stating: “I will be looking to promote the rights of the Little Island community to have a real say in the development and the rights of the future workforce to organise and have union representation.”