Overview
- Lidl says the rollout is moving at record speed, growing from about 200 stores before Christmas to roughly 340 by mid-January, with a reported goal of reaching around half of its 3,250+ locations by spring 2026.
- Feature expansion includes Scan & Go in the Lidl-Plus app for in-aisle scanning and payment at dedicated lanes, with digital coupons and deposit receipts supported, age verification still required, and some gift or prepaid cards restricted.
- An employee described a typical setup of six self-checkout terminals monitored via a small staffed station for oversight and age checks, with conveyor-belt lanes largely closed early and near store closing.
- Recent social posts detail practical snags such as unmanned self-checkout areas, closed machines, and long queues with only one staffed register, alongside worries about older shoppers and reduced human interaction.
- The automation push tracks with a tight labor market in German retail, where 122,000 vacancies were reported in mid-2025 and chains have leaned on hiring incentives.