Local retailers who feared Lidl would give them tough competition did all they could to thwart the German giant's entry into Norway. Local politicians often seemed to help make things difficult for Lidl, such as refusing to grant zoning requests or allowing the chain's free-standing stores to be built.
The chain, also often accused of being too secretive by Norwegian standards of openness, never managed to achieve the success it expected in Norway. Now it's selling its stores to the REMA 1000 grocery store chain.
"We're taking over Lidl's operations in Norway," confirmed Odd Reitan, founder of REMA 1000 to business news service E24 on Friday.
Reitan claimed the deal "was so new that I don't remember what the price is, but I think we agreed that the price should be confidential."
All 50 Lidl stores in Norway will be converted to REMA 1000 stores. Reitan characterized the deal as mostly a real estate transaction, saying it also would help boost REMA 1000's market share.
Werner Evertsen of Lidl Norge said in a statement that Lidl had "full confidence that REMA 1000 will carry out our obligations towards Lidl's employees, our customer and our major suppliers."
