Queues of people attended as Craigavon native and NI actor Owen James officially opened the new £9m Lidl store at Rushmere Shopping Centre
The new £9m Lidl store at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon was officially opened by local actor Owen James.
Lidl says the 2,467 sq.m store offers shoppers ‘a larger sales floor, expanded product range and more convenient location’.
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Owen James, best known for his roles in Blue Lights, Hope Street and Say Nothing, cut the ribbon at the opening on Thursday.
The first shoppers were welcomed into the new store at 8am, with vouchers for those first in the queue as well as special offers in store.
Lidl NI also celebrated the new store opening by donating £1,000 in store vouchers to two local charities Home-Start Craigavon and Craigavon Area Foodbank (Trussell Trust), ‘further demonstrating its commitment to supporting local communities and causes’.
Located beside Rushmere Shopping Centre, with direct access off Central Way, the new store replaces Lidl’s former Balteagh Road branch, where the retailer has served the Craigavon community since 2004.
"The new site is 23% larger than the previous store, offering customers wider aisles, an improved store layout, enhanced product ranges and a more convenient shopping experience in a prime location next to NI’s largest shopping complex, which welcomed more than 10.5 million customers in 2025,” said a Lidl spokesperson.
The opening also marks a boost for local employment, with 12 new retail jobs created for the Craigavon area, bringing the total team employed at the new Lidl Craigavon store to 40. More than 150 jobs were also supported during the planning and construction phase of the project.
Developed with sustainability at the fore, the store includes energy-efficient features such as LED lighting, heat pumps and PV solar panels, supporting Lidl’s wider work to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero by 2050.
Regional Managing Director for Lidl NI Gordon Cruikshanks said: “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Lidl NI in Craigavon. We have proudly served this community for more than 20 years, and it was fantastic to welcome customers into our new store this morning and see such a strong response from local shoppers.
"This new store has been designed around the needs of our customers, with more space, an improved layout and an enhanced range of fresh, local and affordable products. It also reflects our continued investment in sustainability and in the communities we serve.
"We are proud to have created 12 new retail roles as part of this development, bringing our Craigavon team to 40 colleagues, and we look forward to continuing to serve customers from our new home beside Rushmere Shopping Centre.”
Actor and Craigavon native Owen James said: “Craigavon is home for me, so it was a real pleasure to cut the ribbon at Lidl NI’s new store this morning.
"I know how important this store will be for local families, from the weekly shop to picking up everyday essentials, and it’s great to see Lidl investing in a bigger, more modern store for the area. The opening had a brilliant community feel, with shoppers queuing early and the team ready to welcome people in.
"This is a positive day for Craigavon, bringing new jobs, more choice and a fresh new store beside Rushmere Shopping Centre. I’m delighted to have played a small part in marking it.”