Lidl generates €10m in sales for Irish tourism industry

Lidl contributed more than €10 million in revenue to the Irish tourism industry last year, the German-owned supermarket chain has said.

The retailer said almost 100,000 people experienced a Lidl break at hotels throughout the country with a sales increase of 50 per cent in the second half of last year, compared to the same period in 2012.

Top County destinations included Dublin with revenue approaching €2 million, Cork approaching €1.5 million and Galway over €1 million.

Lidl said 2014 will see further expansion of Lidl-breaks.ie into the international market giving Irish customers access to 220,000 worldwide hotels with destinations including New York, Dubai, Florida, Spain and Portugal among others.

Since entering the Irish market in July 2000, the retailer has opened 138 stores throughout all 26 counties.