Lidl Northern Ireland has opened a new store in Craigavon, investing £9 million in a site adjacent to Rushmere Shopping Centre. The supermarket replaces its former Balteagh Road location, which served the area since 2004.

The 2,467 square metre store is 23 per cent larger than the previous one, with wider aisles, an improved layout and expanded product ranges. It opened its doors at 8am on Thursday, with the first customers receiving gift vouchers.

Craigavon-born actor Owen James, known for television roles in Blue Lights, Hope Street and Say Nothing, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. The company said the move brings 12 new retail jobs, taking the total workforce at the Craigavon branch to 40. More than 150 jobs were supported during planning and construction.

Lidl Northern Ireland also donated £1,000 in store vouchers to Home-Start Craigavon and the Craigavon Area Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust network.

The building incorporates energy-efficient measures including LED lighting, heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. The company has a target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland, stated that the store was designed around customer needs, offering more space and a better shopping experience. He highlighted the company's two decades in the community and its pride in creating new roles.

Owen James described the opening as a positive day for Craigavon, noting the new jobs and greater choice for local families. He said it was a pleasure to mark the investment in his home town.