According to a study by the consulting firm Forvis Mazars, released in June, exports facilitated by Lidl Portugal generated a significant impact of 289 million euros on the Portuguese economy, an 18% increase compared to the previous year.

During the analyzed period, Lidl contributed to the creation of 6,520 jobs in Portugal, an impressive growth of 32% compared to 2022. In terms of exports, Lidl Portugal facilitated sales worth 156 million euros in 2023, representing 2% of the total Portuguese food product exports to the European Union.

"Lidl boosted the sales of more than 100 national suppliers to 29 countries where it operates," the company highlights in a statement. Last year, Lidl exported more than a hundred different types of products to 29 of the 32 countries where it is present, with Germany, Spain, and France being the main destinations.

Lidl Portugal's exports in 2023, accounting for 2% of the national food product exports to the European Union, generated a direct, indirect, and induced impact of 289 million euros on the Portuguese economy, an 18% increase compared to 2022. This impact was mainly distributed across the sectors of agriculture, animal production, and hunting (44%), food products (31%), beverages (18%), and fish and aquaculture products (7%).

In 2023, every euro in exports facilitated by Lidl resulted in approximately 1.85 euros generated in the Portuguese economy. The retailer boosted exports of 156 million euros in national products, a 19% growth compared to 2022. The product categories with the highest contribution were fruits and vegetables (57.5 million euros), wine and liqueurs (24.3 million euros), fish and fish preserves (13.1 million euros), basic foods such as pasta and rice (12.2 million euros), and canned vegetables and legumes (11.4 million euros).

Some product categories more than doubled their export volume compared to the previous year, such as fresh and dry dairy products (+227%), coffee/tea/cocoa/instant (+148%), and basic foods (+50%).

It is important to highlight that 80% of suppliers exporting through Lidl are SMEs, and 82% of the export business volume facilitated by Lidl comes from these small and medium-sized enterprises.

Exports promoted by Lidl resulted in the creation of 6,520 jobs in Portugal, a 32% increase compared to 2022, signifying an additional 1,588 jobs, mainly impacting the sectors of agriculture, animal production, and hunting (61%), food products (19%), fish and aquaculture products (11%), and beverages (9%).

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes