Lidl has announced plans to launch budget mobile phone plans in the UK later this year, but the service will only be available to customers who use the Lidl Plus loyalty app. The move is part of a deal between Lidl's owner, Schwarz Group, and mobile network 1GLOBAL, which saw Schwarz acquire a 9.9% stake in the telecom group earlier this month.
Under the agreement, Lidl will operate as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), offering mobile services using an existing network rather than building its own infrastructure. Customers will be able to purchase eSIM plans 'in seconds' through the Lidl Plus app, with no contracts or binding commitments, and can manage their plans instantly.
No official launch date has been confirmed, and Lidl has not yet revealed which markets it will target, though the UK, US, Spain, and France have been suggested as key markets. The Lidl Plus app, launched in 2020, offers weekly coupons and reward vouchers for in-store purchases, and is available for free on Android and iOS.
The move into mobile telecommunications comes just days after Lidl GB announced plans to open more than 50 new stores across the UK as part of a £600 million investment. Lidl GB CEO Ryan McDonnell said the expansion aims to 'impact our British communities' and make 'affordable, healthy food accessible to everyone.'
