Lidl is embarking on a modest growth plan stateside. But, facing massive competition on all fronts, could it possibly end up being squeezed out?

Aldi and Lidl are both expanding further into Manhattan. Will these efforts pay off?

Lidl has expanded its meat selection with its own private-label brand.

The RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge may not rise to the competitive level of the World Cup but, for this week at least, it will bring together two international grocery powerhouses, each with their own holiday stories to tell. What is your critique of the Christmas spots from Aldi UK and Lidl?

No tearjerkers here. That’s the top line introduction to two newest spots, presented for your consideration in our competition to see which retailer will win this year’s RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which of the messages presented by Lidl GB and Tesco do you think will resonate more with consumers?

One key to success that Lidl undoubtedly knew before coming to America is happy associates. Now, the chain has announced that it will allow all associates to participate in the company’s health insurance plan. How important will Lidl’s medical benefits program be as a recruiting tool for new employees?

Grocery Outlet has kept its customers happy with low priced groceries for more than 70 years. Now the chain will see if it can please Wall Street, as well. What challenges will Grocery Outlet face as it goes public and works to significantly grow its store footprint?

Concern over increased competition from grocery discounters like Aldi and Lidl seems to be a big factor pushing Tesco to open its own low-price concept. Is launching a discount concept that takes on Aldi and Lidl the right move for Tesco?

The German hard discount grocery chain Aldi has been in the U.S. since 1976. Lidl, another German import, began opening its first American stores last June. The two chains are having an oversized impact on the U.S. grocery market as their low prices put pressure on rivals. Do you see a full-scale grocery price war breaking out in the U.S.?

With Lidl, the German hard discount grocery chain, now going head-to-head with Walmart in the U.S. market, we thought it would be interesting to match the two in this week’s global version of the RetailWire Christmas Commercial Challenge. Which do you think is the more effective of the two? Would these spots work for a U.S. retailer?

A new report from Cadent Consulting suggests private label dollar share could swell as much as eight points to 25.7 percent by 2027 thanks to the influence of Amazon/Whole Foods, Aldi, Lidl and other factors. How can food retailers best take advantage of the trend?

Reports have surfaced that Lidl, the German grocery chain with big expansion plans for the U.S., is seeing poor opening performance at some of its new stores in this country. Do you think Lidl’s experience in the U.S. is more likely to resemble Aldi’s or Tesco’s Fresh & Easy?

While mom-and-pop grocery stores nationwide have faced tremendous difficulties, Washington, D.C. appears to be bucking the trend. Do you see urban areas as representing the best opportunity for independent grocer growth?

Unlike its arch rival Aldi, the Lidl product mix includes national brands. Also unlike Aldi, Lidl is aggressively pushing its fresh lines, highlighting local produce. What are the biggest competitive advantages Lidl brings with it to the U.S. market?

J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Sears have been closing stores in large numbers in an acknowledgment that there is simply not enough business to support their continued operation. Other channels have also shuttered stores in large numbers. Are grocery stores next? Are there too many stores selling groceries in the U.S.?

The days when consumers made one big shopping trip to their local supermarket may be a thing of the past as households increasingly designate specific stores for items such as fresh produce and meat while stocking up on other items such as paper and plastic goods at another. What factors are driving multiple weekly trips to grocery stores?

Walmart knows a thing or two about Aldi and Lidl occupying the same market based on its experience in the U.K. and Europe. Perhaps that’s why The Wall Street Journal reports the world’s largest retailer is “bracing” for an increased level of competition in the U.S. What does Walmart know about Aldi and Lidl that has management so concerned about their expansion plans in the U.S.?

Save-A-Lot may yet be a player in the hard discount grocery market in the U.S. The chain announced that it has hired Kenneth McGrath, former CEO of Lidl Ireland and Lidl USA, to lead its business. Can Kenneth McGrath transform Save-A-Lot into a force to be reckoned with in the U.S. hard discount grocery market?

The German grocery chain, Lidl, is anxious to enter the American market and so far, at least, progress has been good. The company has announced plans to open 20 stores this summer in the Carolinas and Virginia. Do you think Lidl is prepared to take on the American grocery market?

Aldi and Lidl have steadily grabbed market share in the U.K. over recent years Now, with Aldi ramping up its expansion in the U.S. and Lidl planning to enter the market in a big way as early as next year, the question is whether the two will achieve a comparable level of success here. What is your forecast for Aldi and Lidl in the U.S.?

Although no one knows exactly how big a share they’ll take, it’s clear that Aldi and, eventually, Lidl are likely to become key players in the U.S. marketplace. So what’s a retailer to do? How should conventional grocers meet the threat of Aldi and Lidl?

Kroger has a wide range of store formats catering to consumers in the upper, middle and lower end of the grocery spectrum, as it continues to expand the store count of its hard discount Ruler Foods business. Do you think Kroger is pursuing the right policy of offering store formats to meet the needs of grocery consumers in the upper, middle and lower ends of the market?

Week one of the global version of the Christmas Commercial Challenge went to the creative “Mog’s Christmas Calamity” from Sainsbury’s. This week we bring you three new commercials from major players on the UK grocery scene. Which of the three is best?

Lidl, the giant German limited-assortment grocer, officially revealed plans to expand into the U.S. the same week its arch rival Aldi announced plans to open its first stores in California. Do you see large expansion opportunities for both Aldi and Lidl in the U.S.?

Depending on the spin, Lidl is either the first or among the first grocery chains operating in the U.K. to remove candy from all its checkout lanes. Would a full out ban of candy at the checkout work for mainstream grocers in the U.S.?

Back in 2002, RetailWire published a story on traditional car dealerships in Europe potentially seeing profits drop by as much as 40 percent by 2010 because new formats including supermarkets would get into auto sales. That same year, RetailWire reported on Wal-Mart leasing parking lot space for selling used cars. Will we see retailers in the U.S. going into side categories in an effort to drive incremental sales and profits?

Following an article in Stern, a German magazine, discount supermarket Lidl has been forced to deny charges of spying on workers. The magazine claimed that both cameras and private detectives monitored employee movements and kept track of their relationships, personal finances and even trips to the toilet. Where is the line to be drawn between what’s acceptable to reduce shrink and actions that constitute a violation of workers’ privacy?