Innovation: Lidl launches mobile shops in Hungary!
Starting on 17 October, Lidl is taking to Hungarian roads in a new form: the “Lidl on Four Wheels” mobile shop is setting off on a nationwide tour to bring everyday shopping to residents of the smallest villages with no grocery stores. The initiative aims to support rural communities whose nearest supermarket might otherwise be tens of kilometres away.
The mobile shop is housed in a specially converted Renault van, decorated with the Lidl logo and the chain’s signature illuminated sign. More than 80 different products are available inside, ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables to dairy products, frozen foods, cleaning supplies and pantry staples. As in Lidl’s regular stores, all items are sold at the same prices.
The mobile Lidl could reach 27–28 thousand people
Each day, the van visits one or two villages, spending a few hours at each stop, most often in the central square or near the church. If any goods run out, a supply lorry travels with the van to quickly restock shelves.
According to Lidl, the autumn tour will last for 25 days and cover 48 small settlements, potentially bringing shopping opportunities to about 27–28 thousand people.
“Our goal is twofold: to support residents in small villages and to give them the chance to get to know Lidl’s products. In many places, the nearest store is 20 to 30 kilometres away, which prevents a lot of people from shopping with us,” said Zita Szlavikovics, Chairwoman of the Board of Lidl Hungary and the creator of the project.
Many employees involved in the initiative
The interior of the van is fitted with fridges and freezers, ensuring that fresh goods remain safe during transport to remote areas. Two or three employees operate the van at a time, but more than seventy Lidl staff are involved in the project overall. The company notes that after analysing the experiences of this autumn’s pilot phase, it will decide whether the spring tour will be extended and whether new villages will be added to the route.
Not a competition: the more mobile shops, the better
Szlavikovics emphasised that the mobile shop is not meant to compete with local retailers, but to complement the limited food supply available in rural areas. “We’d welcome it if other supermarket chains joined in and launched their own mobile shops,” she added.
The initiative is unique within Lidl: no similar project exists in any other country, meaning this Hungarian pilot could become a model internationally. The full route and timetable of the mobile shop can be viewed on Lidl’s website, where the list of stops is updated regularly.
Great initiative, more than once I said the old Dutch SRV could done great job in the outskirts.
Well done Lidl
Hopefully they only sell fresh produce, not like at some stores where you see rotting vegetables sitting there for days… I will never understand this common practice here… way worse quality and care than at the west.