Lidl begins construction on distribution center

Lidl, a Germany-based discount supermarket chain, has broken ground on its new regional headquarters and distribution center in Spotsylvania County.

A group of Virginia elected officials, business and community leaders, joined Lidl U.S. vice presidents Payton Reid and Christoph Hettinger at a ceremony Tuesday at the 82-acre site at 6110 Smith station Road. The $125 million facility is expected to create 200 jobs in the state and open no later than 2018.

“We chose Spotsylvania not just for its central location, but also for its talented workforce and economic vitality,” Brendan Proctor, president and CEO of Lidl U.S., said in a statement.

Lidl, one of the largest retailers in the world, operates nearly 10,000 stores in 26 countries throughout Europe. In addition to the Spotsylvania facility, Lidl will soon open the company’s U.S. headquarters in Arlington County. In total, Lidl is investing more than $200 million in its operations in Virginia and has pledged to create a total of 700 new jobs in the state by 2018.

“As one of the leading European retailers, we are happy Lidl chose Virginia as its gateway to the United States,” Maurice Jones, Virginia secretary of commerce and trade, said in a statement.

The state provided incentives to secure the project. State incentives included $5 million in grants from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and $2 million from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant program.  The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors also approved a $9.7 million incentive package for Lidl. Those incentives include an upfront payment of $1.4 million from the county.