The data comes from a Socioeconomic Impact Study conducted by Forvis Mazars for Lidl Portugal, assessing the economic activity of the supermarket chain over the past 30 years in the Portuguese market, directly, indirectly, and induced across the entire value chain.
Since entering Portugal in 1995, Lidl has generated a total impact of 44 billion euros on the Portuguese Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through direct, indirect, and induced means.
The study indicates that the retail chain recorded an average annual growth rate of 15%.
The economic impact of Lidl rose from 54 million euros in 1995 to around 3.223 billion euros in 2024, considering direct, indirect, and induced effects.
This means that for every euro spent, Lidl’s activity generated an average of 1.78 euros in the Portuguese economy, highlighting its role in boosting national production throughout the supply chain.
According to Lidl, the direct impact was 56%, materialized through payments to suppliers, wages, and taxes, with an indirect impact of 23% through the activity of its suppliers.
The induced impact was 21%, resulting from the multiplier effect of Lidl’s activity in Portugal.
Lidl’s operations in Portugal have helped create and maintain approximately 90,000 jobs, with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% in its total employment impact since 1995.
For every job created by Lidl, 10.6 new jobs were created in the country, the study notes.
Out of the total, 9% corresponds to the company’s direct contribution through hiring employees—currently employing over 8,000 people—while 78% relates to the indirect impact from demand factors, boosting production among both direct suppliers and the first-line sectors that supply them.
The remaining 13% corresponds to the induced impact, meaning the effects generated in other sectors across the entire value chain.
“These figures, in addition to reflecting the real value we’ve been creating for the country, show that Lidl has become much more than a brand: it is now a symbol of commitment, trust, and real impact on people’s lives,” says Hélder Rocha, CEO of Lidl Portugal, in a statement.
“Our path is one of continuity, reinforcing growth, impact, and commitment to Portugal,” he adds.
Currently, Lidl employs over 8,000 people across more than 280 stores from the North to the South of the country, along with its headquarters, four regional offices, and warehouses in Santo Tirso (North), Torres Novas (West), Loures (Centre), and Palmela (South).
Lidl is part of the Schwarz Group.
