Project can be housing only
The controversial LIDL project in Largo Severiano Ferraz, in the upper part of Funchal city centre, refused by the Municipality of Funchal, Câmara Municipal do Funchal, can be re-evaluated according to the headline in JM. However, João Rodrigues, the councillor responsible for Urbanism, indicates that the CMF has already classified the zone as a residential area.
This is now being described as an objective that can be reconciled with the commercial aspect of the supermarket chain as long as the mobility study ensures normal operation of the traffic.
Lidl’s other three investments in Funchal are already in progress. In 2021 the Lidl group announces its expansion to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with a view to opening three stores by 2023. This is not the first announcement made in this regard, although now appears more precisely and even with the respective timing and amounts involved.
With a consolidated presence in Portugal, from the north to the south of the country, in a network of 265 stores, the retailer is now expanding its operation to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with an investment of 100 million euros and the first three stores scheduled for 2023.
The entry of Lidl Portugal in the Region also aims to boost the local economy, not only in establishing partnerships with local suppliers but also in recruiting employees, as announced. In this sense, in 2023 around 150 new jobs will be created, with purchases from Madeiran commercial and service providers valued at around 20 million euros.
Lidl has been in Portugal for 26 years and now has a network of 265 stores, from north to south, with 8,200 employees.
Sustainability continues to be one of the main focuses according to the retailer, which is why, in the expansion of its operation to Madeira, its stores will be equipped with photovoltaic panels, as well as multi-standard electric charging stations and fast charging, which make it possible to an 80% recharge of the battery in just 30 minutes, allowing for refuelling during a regular shopping trip. Its fleet will also be 100% electric.
No “Bloom” production locally
The cover of today’s JM also highlights a large photo, with the tiny bag, whose contents are leading many young people, and beyond, to perdition. We are talking about drugs such as ‘bloom’, which normally arrives in Madeira by letter from the East.
The PJ (justice Police) says it is unaware that there is ‘bloom’ production in the Region. Police coordinator Ricardo Tecedeiro admits that consumption on the islands is higher than on the mainland.
I’m sure they’ll be able to sneak the odd shop in.
Bloom, I would suggest looking closer to home investigate what local farmers plant grower’s etc. are importing to the island Probley disguised as plant food .It may come in granules than grinded into fine dust locally.
Have you any concrete evidence of this you can show us or are you just carrying on your usual unfounded knocking rumours. Still waiting your answer proving Venezuelan immigrants are responsible for all the crime in Madeira and your suggestions as to how you would improve Madeira without adding to Tourism.
You obviously have no knowledge about drugs or the streets of Madeira especially Funchal this very addictive drug has flooded the streets this is not a luxury drug such as cocaine it is what they call a low life’s zombies drug it cost as little as 5 euros a bag and they are selling it to anyone including children, how is this drug is getting on to the island? If you have nothing helpful to say? Zip it George
I admit to not living on the Island but spend six to eight weeks a year in Funchal over many years and enjoy speaking to and learning from the locals. I have no first hand experience of drugs except to say I would give the harshest penalties to anyone found guilty of possessing, whether for sale or own use. I don’t know how this Bloom is getting on the Island except for the authorities explanation, by post. You it seems are the fount of all knowledge. It is being brought in by the farmers, in industrial quantities. Have you proof of this ? Alongside proof of the the Venezuelan immigrant crime cartels and the greedy Madeirans who in their attempts to better the Island have ruined it, whilst smiling while they take our money off us. Is there anything in Madeira you admire or have a kind word to say about. Enlighten us
looks like a Lidl publicity paper. Its been said before, read carefully, it says 150 ‘new ‘ jobs That actually means new to Lidl. not extra jobs on the Island. The net effect could be as many as 300/ 450 jobs lost. To achieve their sales targets maybe 100 competitors shops will end up closed.
They are great modern shops, with when they first start very low prices, The productivity level has to been seen, they manage their staff like robots. I was speaking to one and he said he’d worked 13 hours already and had another 3/4 hours to go . I asked him how long his lunch break was and he said’ ” lunch break !!! he was lucky to be allowed to have a toilet break”
You yourself say Lidl are great modern shops which I assume you use, or do you prefer to buy from the higher priced corner shops. Lidl’s target like Pingo Doce and the other Supermarket chains is to equal or sell below the prices of their rivals. Therefore why are you denying the advantages they bring to the the population of Madeira. As to their low prices when they start, those prices aren’t aimed at cutting out the little competitors, they’re competitors are the Pingo Doces and other chains. These are the competitors.They have to keep their prices at or below the other chains. If they don’t the competition wins. It’s called business and it’s all good for the consumer.
As to the guy working 17 hours a day, I’d advise him to get another job.
Of course they are aiming to grab market share from Pingo Doce etc but the collateral damage will be on the smaller retailers who don’t have the resources to fight back. When I shopped at Pingo Doce their prices, were substantially lower than Lidl GB. In the UK the main supermarkets charge the same prices as Lidl and Aldi on many lines but the main difference is in the quality. That the discounters cant match.
So your solution is to allow Lidl to set up and compete against the other supermarket chains to the benefit of the consumer but to subsidize in some way the smaller retailers thus saving 300 to 450 jobs. Assuming the subsidy would be paid for from the public purse, then the advantages, to the consumer from the supermarket chains competitiveness would be wiped out. Small businesses such as you describe are used by the public mainly for their convenience, for the item they forgot, didn’t realize they didn’t have or need. No one is going to get the car out to go into the town centre because they’ve forgotten one item but are happy to pay the small businesses higher price for the convenience. The supermarkets are for the weekly shop. In the UK the majority of garages are now one size above small grocers, no one goes there for enough to feed the family but for a loaf of bread, oh and we need a lettuce and we’re low on biscuits and I might as well fill up with petrol while I’m here.
The controversial LIDL project in Largo Severiano Ferraz,,,? Does Pingo Doce have…influence with “El Presidente”… I may think so, however I could.’t possibly comment…?
” I may think so, however I could.’t possibly comment…?”
You just did………..
Well some around where never happy or even satisfied with anything . But this Lidil should also go to Santa Cruz where the poor people particular the old people don’t have a decent supermarket they have mini one . And this older people are oblige asking to their relatives to go to Matur Machico or go to Canico .And in the top of that some areas that the supposed buses been reduce to the minimum like the area where my mother lives Santo Antonio Da Serra Santa Cruz where the older people need to walk in the street without any pavement in a national road to get the bus in Residencial Prisma this isn’t right or correct. The Santa Cruz should try to resolve the abandoned land that is in the centre of Santa Cruz in Avenida 25 de Junho where people get the bus to Funchal and built their a decent supermarket for the locals .
Isabel, I applaud yours and others sentiment but this is the hard world of commerce. Lidl and all the other supermarket chains go where the money is. They have shareholders the biggest being the pension funds, perhaps yours. They want young people with families and spending power.