Sanford’s next grocery store part of German invasion of N.C.

Let’s get the important question out of the way first. It’s pronounced “LEE-dil.”

Now that that’s out of the way, Sanford’s next grocery store, Lidl, is progressing nicely in the once vacant acreage at the U.S. 421/N.C. 87 split near the Walmart shopping center in the city’s ever-growing southside.

The German-based chain — described by Business Insider as a “cross between Kroger and Trader Joe’s — is pummeling North Carolina between now and early 2018 with at least 25 new stores in the Tar Heel State and 150 stores nationwide. It operates more than 10,000 stores in 26 European countries, known across the pond for lower prices and an emphasis on store brands (in addition to stuff you’ve actually heard of).

Not to be confused with its German competitor, Aldi (which also has several Triangle-area locations), Lidl’s U.S. expansion is coming hard and fast. Each North Carolina metro area is scheduled to get one, but so will several Sanford-sized cities, such as Wilson, Rocky Mount and Henderson. In the Triangle, Cary’s getting one, and Apex would have, but the city denied a zoning request from the company last January.

Sanford’s Lidl figures to become Walmart’s first grocer competitor in the South Sanford vicinity. No opening date has been publicly announced for the 36,000-square-foot facility, but other stores in the state are scheduled to open in the next few months.