Supermarket Mere dubbed the ‘Russian Lidl’ plans to open 300 UK stores as it bids to become Britain’s cheapest

A SUPERMARKET chain dubbed “Russia’s Lidl” is planning to open 300 Uk stores in a bid to become Britain’s cheapest grocery store.

Svetofor was founded in Siberia in 2009, but it’s opened stores in Europe since 2018 under the name Mere.

2

The Sun reported last month that the Russian discount supermarket was looking to open four stores in the UK in Preston, Castleford, Mold and Caldicot.

But now it’s been revealed that the grocery giants have ramped up their plans – and according to reports will open hundreds of stores in the next eight to ten years, according to The Grocer.

And the first shop in Preston’s Ribbleton is reportedly scheduled to open next month.

Speaking to The Grocer earlier this month, Mere’s head of UK buying Pavels Antonovs claimed the supermarket would be 30 per cent cheaper than rivals.

He said: “We are the gap in the market. We don’t have any competitors.

2

“Our model is no service and no marketing.”

The Russian chain is said to have 3,200 stores around the world.

Mere compares itself to Costco, but with no membership fee and no in-store service.

Each UK store will reportedly be about 10,000 square feet and have just eight workers.

The shops are also said to include a walk-in chiller room and freezer,and items are typically sold directly from the pallets they’re delivered on.

The supermarket buys stock from suppliers on a “sale or return basis”, which means it’ll return any unsold goods to the seller.

The news comes as Amazon Fresh went to war with supermarkets in March by opening its first real-life shop.

SLICE OF THE ACTION

Lidl’s sell-out pizza oven is back – and it’s cheaper than Aldi’s

FLIPPING HECK

Six ways you could get fined in hot weather, including driving in flip flops

SPLASH OUT

Bargain hunter reveals how to get £20 Studio 8ft pool for just £10

CHEERS TO THAT

Greene King pubs are giving away FREE pints this weekend – how to get one

TO YOUR CREDIT

How we fixed our bad credit scores and paid off £1.5k debt to buy first home

MONEY MAKER

Martin Lewis fan explains how he’s made £4,000 from switching banks

Around the same time, another new budget supermarket called OOPS! offered a year’s supply of free nuggets to one customer.

Aldi and Lidl are often crowned the cheapest supermarkets – which is thanks to their low running costs and a limited amount of products.

Aldi beat off stiff competition and was crowned the cheapest supermarket in April, according to Which?.
Meanwhile, Lidl narrowly beat Aldi as the cheapest supermarket of 2020.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk