Lidl Woolston Southampton David Stowe

David Stowe was talking to Stephen Jones

Did you always want to work in retail? Yes. I like how much the sector develops year on year, with new processes, new designs, and range innovation – especially Lidl. I’ve been with Lidl over 17 years, nine as store manager, including three here.

There are six Lidls in Southampton. Is there anything special about this one?  We have one of the larger Lidl stores in Southampton. We are nicely situated in Woolston, close to housing estates, schools, and all the local businesses near the river. New enhancements last autumn have optimised our fresh produce section and self checkout area, giving the store a new look and feel. Other changes included expanding freezer and chiller capacity. Having side-by-side chillers has made the store a lot more convenient for the customer to shop, and overall, it has been a really positive development.

Are you looking forward to the Lidl Plus app getting the scan & shop feature next year? I can’t wait! It’ll be such a good addition, and having the use of a mobile phone to do your shopping is so handy. With the changing habits of consumers, anything that saves people time and creates an easier way to shop is always welcome.

 

Read more:

 

How regularly do you speak to other store managers in Southampton? Generally, each week there is a lot of communication between me and other managers in the area – it’s good to stay in touch. I also try to make a habit of visiting their stores. It’s always good to get inspiration for what can be done better.

What are people typically coming to store for? What are the typical shopping missions? The go-to is always the bakery and all the new tasty treats we have. Also, our non-food products have been selling out extremely fast – with the hot weather, products like pools and fans have been flying off the shelves. Personally, I love our ‘Flavour of the Week’ offering – the American, Italian, and Spanish ranges are always fun to try and it’s something a bit different.

What are the big trading events in Southampton? There’s always lots going on in central Southampton, but the best and most consistent events are at St Mary’s Stadium, which gives us a big boost on game days.

Lidl has just been voted Grocer of the Year. What is drawing shoppers to your store more than rivals’? The biggest point of difference I’ve always seen is that Lidl, at its core, is still a discounter. However, our offering, look and feel are anything but. Providing locals with quality products at affordable prices in a nice store keeps customers coming to Lidl. It’s also no secret that our bakery is a huge draw – with new products ­landing all the time. I’ve got a few favourites, like our jam doughnuts and our new mozzarella & pesto pizzas, but nothing beats our croissant: it’s always a top seller.

Topics