The recent results from the Los Angeles International Wine Competition placed Lidl US at No. 1 among retail exhibitors, beating all other wineries at the 2017 event. The winner was selected through blind tastings. Lidl was awarded 101 medals, including 16 gold medals, five best of class, 52 silver medals, and 33 bronze medals. That is a very exciting endorsement for a company opening its doors in the United States on June 15, 2017.

Master of Wines Adam Lapierre curates Lidl wines. There are about 350 masters in the world. To select the 110 wines for the competition, he tasted about 10,000 wines over the past year. The five best of class wines that were selected by the judges are Cava, Port, Chardonnay, Sweet Red, and Viognier. I am told that all these quality wines will be sold in Lidl stores at the lowest possible prices.

At 7:40 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2017, Lidl’s management will cut the ribbon at ten locations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. They will be the first of 20 stores to be opened this summer. These grocery stores will feature great choices of fish and meats, freshly baked bread and a fine delicatessen at very low prices. Management calls it “market beating prices.” I have noted in previous articles that Lidl’s and Aldi’s entry into the U.K. seriously affected the profitability of leading grocery store chains like Tesco, Morrison’s, and Sainsbury, as well as Walmart’s Asda. Profit margins at these retailers dropped sharply.

The stores will be located in Wilson NC, Kinston NC, Greenville NC, Sanford NC, Rocky Mount NC, Winston Salem NC, Spartanburg SC, Greenville SC, Virginia Beach Va, and Hampton Va.

While 90% of the products will be exclusive in Lidl stores, they are not low-quality private label knockoffs.  Based on my visits to European Lidl stores, the store will sell only the highest quality food products. There will also be gluten-free and organic merchandise.  To keep the store exciting and consumers coming back often, a selection of non-food products will change every week. It may include housewares, fitness gear, small kitchen appliances, toys or outdoor furniture. Since they are at unbeatable prices, stores often run out of some of these offering.

Read more at source: Forbes