A Russian supermarket nicknamed the new Lidl is looking for landlords across the country as it plans its expansion in the UK.
Mere, as the chain is known, is poised to open stores all over Britain as it takes on German discounters Lidl and Aldi as well as the Big Four.
It’s already confirmed plans to open its first four UK outlets this summer, and now new listings online reveal where the chain is considering setting up shop.
The business is appealing for landlords to contact it via its website.
“We are looking for suitable locations across UK to expand our retail chain,” the retailer’s website says.
“At the moment, despite coronavirus, we are actively involved with landlords, their representatives and agents with the aim to open our Mere retail stores ASAP.”
The locations listed as reported by The Grocer are: Devon, Stockport, Neath, Banbury, Selby, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Grantham, Kettering, Plymouth, Beckenham, Gloucester, Northampton, Cardiff, Oswestry, Barnsley, Sheffield, Exeter, Stretford, Southampton, south Scotland and Wales.
The discounter is looking for sites of around 10,000 sq ft, with parking spaces for 30-40 cars and a local population of 60,000 or more.
Mere said its first UK store will open in Preston next month in a former Nisa branch.
It is to be followed by a second site in the north of England, in Castleford, and two in Wales, in Mold and Caldicot.
The grocer, founded in 2009, just as Lidl emerged in the UK mid-recession, is known locally as Svetofor in Russia.
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It has about 3,200 stores internationally and has been opening in Europe since 2018 with stores in Germany, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
As well as the UK, it plans to soon expand in Italy, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria.
The company claims it will undercut existing UK supermarkets by 20%-30%.
Its low-staff retail model sees suppliers deliver directly to stores and goods sold from pallets. Stores feature a walk-in chiller room, and only eight workers to keep costs down.
The website also features a page looking for shopfitters, listing some of the prices paid, including £400 for “used freezers” and £50 for “shopping carts”.
Each store in the UK will have around 1,200 items and just eight staff.
It won’t sell items such as newspapers, magazines and other premium, branded goods.
Speaking to trade magazine The Grocer, Pavels Antonovs said Mere prices will undercut even the cheapest supermarkets.
Antonovs said: “We are the gap in the market. We don’t have any competitors.”
"Our model is no service and no marketing."
