German Grocery Chain Buys Best Markets

Lidl US and Best Market announced on Friday that the German company is purchasing the 27 Best Market locations in New York and New Jersey, many of which are on Long Island, and converting them into Lidl markets.

Lidl, a German company that owns more than 10,000 stores in Europe and the United States, announced that the purchase would mark the first Lidl stores on Long Island. Best Market owns 24 Long Island stores.

"Best Market has played an enormously positive role in the area, and we look forward to working closely with Best Market employees to build on that success," said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. "We are excited to expand into many great communities on Long Island and across the New York City area and introduce more customers to our simple and efficient approach to grocery shopping, which will mean high quality and huge savings for more shoppers."

Lidl said it plans to remodel all of the Best Market stores. The company also said that all of the current Best Market employees will have guaranteed employment at the Lidl stores after the transition, with wages and benefits that are equal, or better, than what they currently have.

"Today is a great day for Long Island, our Best Market team, and our valued customers in New Jersey and New York,"said Aviv Raitses, co-owner of Best Market. "Partnering with Lidl on this deal offers our employees a secure future with a growing grocer and continues the great tradition we started more than 20 years ago. We are delighted to be part of such a win-win and Best Market customers have something great to look forward to with Lidl."

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