SUPERMARKET giant Lidl is on the lookout for new store locations in Purbeck.

The cut-price food chain has launched a new appeal for landowners and property agents to highlight potential sites as it bids to open hundreds of new stores across the country.

A document highlighting where the firm is looking for sites includes Swanage, Wareham, Wimborne and Poole, as well as Lymington and Sherborne elsewhere in Dorset.

The discounter is also on the lookout for sites in Salisbury, over the Wiltshire border, as it marks its 30th anniversary.

Currently, Lidl has stores in Gillingham and Shaftesbury, Ferndown, Dorchester and Poole.

Richard Taylor, Lidl GB chief development officer, said: “Having fortified our infrastructure with significant investments like Luton, which is the largest warehouse in the Lidl world, we’re proud to have achieved record market share this month.

“We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for the past seven months in a row.

“With an exceptional store network and our laser focus on operational excellence, we’re welcoming more customers through our doors than ever before, which positions us perfectly for continued expansion.

“As we celebrate our 30th year, our commitment to ensuring that all households across the country have access to high quality produce at affordable prices is stronger than ever.

“We’re planning to open hundreds of new Lidl stores but ultimately see no ceiling on our ambition or growth potential.

“This is why we’re continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion.

“As we look ahead, we’re excited to welcome even more new shoppers to our existing stores, as well as those we’re planning to open across the country in the coming months and years.”

In a bid to encourage development, Lidl is offering a ‘finders’ fee’ should a suitable site be identified, which would see either 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price, or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds.

This would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5 million site purchase.

The announcement said the company is specifically looking for sites in “prominent locations with easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow, with 1.5+ acres for a standalone store and up to four acres for mixed-use schemes”.

“Sites should allow for unit sizes between 18,000 and 26,500 sq ft and over 100 dedicated car parking spaces, and Lidl’s flexible approach means it will consider freehold, leasehold or long leasehold opportunities,” it added.