‘I used to work in Lidl – shopping in 1-hour window will get you best bargains’

A former assistant manager at Lidl has shared the secret to getting even more for your money at the supermarket.

Known for its bargains, Roo Dhissou says there’s a particular time where shoppers can get up to 60 per cent off full price items, as she shared the top tip on Netflix’s 24 Hours in Lidl.

According to Roo, the best time to shop in stores nationwide is between 4-5pm, as that’s when mark downs begin to happen. She explains: “They have set points in the day where you do a check and a refill with whatever has been left out.

“You’ll actually see them [the items] being marked [down], so you’ll be able to get them before they go back out onto the shelves. They’re not marked down on the day like other supermarkets, they’re marked down two days before, generally.”

Catherine Shuttleworth, a marketing consultant for the supermarket, adds: “First day it’s 30 per cent reduced, by the second day it goes down to 60 per cent.” Another trick shared about the UK’s sixth biggest supermarket is that shoppers can be rewarded a finder’s fee, if they happen to know of a site in a “prominent location” with easy access and “strong pedestrian or traffic flow”.

Lidl could pay you either 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price, or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds.

“They reward the people, just normal people like you and me to find sites for them where a Lidl can go,” Catherine adds.

Richard Taylor, Lidl GB Chief Development Officer, said of the plan: “As we celebrate our 30th year, our commitment to ensuring that all households across the country have access to high quality produce at affordable prices is stronger than ever.

“We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential. This is why we’re continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion.

“As we look ahead, we’re excited to welcome even more new shoppers to our existing stores, as well as those we’re planning to open across the country in the coming months and years.”

Also in the documentary, Roo shares how stores could encourage shoppers to spend more.

With prices above a product instead of below, shoppers may think they’re grabbing an item for a lower price, until they get to the till.

Roo shares: “So the idea is that you look at the product and look above and see how much it costs.”

However, retail expert Dr Amna Khan says shoppers still naturally look at the price below the product they’re buying.

She explained: “If you went into a traditional supermarket where do you automatically look?

“You look beneath it for the price, you wouldn’t look above it. So automatically when you look underneath it, that’s the price that you think it’s going to be.”

24 Hours in Lidl is available to watch now on Netflix.