German supermarket chain Lidl has become a stalwart for grocery shoppers since it arrived in the UK in 1994.

Now, the supermarket has 960 stores in the country with ambitions to open 'hundreds more' according to a recent report.

Lidl currently has four stores in the Reading urban area, located in Oxford Road, Basingstoke Road in Whitley,  Headley Road, Woodley and Bath Road in Calcot.

The German shopping chain also wants to open two more stores in the area.

It recently emerged that Lidl aims to open a supermarket at the Reading Retail Park off Oxford Road, near the Norcot junction in West Reading.

The company has submitted a licensing application to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm each day from a prospective new store at the retail park.

But the store will not be opening any time soon, as Lidl is awaiting changes in the retail park which will involve Halfords relocating to the former Wrens Kitchens unit and the supermarket taking over units 2 and 6 at the site.

The Halfords and an unoccupied unit at the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road. The Halfords and an unoccupied unit at the Reading Retail Park in Oxford Road.

Lidl is also due to open a supermarket at the massive Shinfield West development to serve future residents there.

Neighbours have welcomed the project, with one resident of Shinfield saying: “There have been very limited services to go hand in hand with the houses that are being built.

“The new supermarket would be a big step forward for all residents, add comfort and local convenience for all plus neighbouring villages.”

The Shinfield West development will contain approximately 1,200 homes once complete.

READ MORE: The six places where Lidl wants to open new stores in Reading

But it hasn't always been plain sailing for Lidl, as controversial plans for a new supermarket and 43 homes in Lower Earley attracted more than 100 objections.

Prospective developers Lower Earley Properties attracted anger when its contractors 'deforested' the project site off Meldreth Way in November 2020.

The project was rejected at a Wokingham Borough Council planning meeting in December 2021.

Here is a full list of the Lidl's in the area:

Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1AS

Basingstoke Road, Whitley RG2 0SJ

Headley Road, Woodley RG5 4JA

Bath Road, Calcot RG30 2HB

Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham RG41 2RU

London Road, Newbury RG14 2BP

Pinchington Lane. Newbury RG14 7HU

A consultation for the licence for alcohol licence at the proposed store at Reading Retail Park is currently open.

You can respond to it by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk. The deadline for responses closes on Monday, August 5.

There are also reports of Lidl aiming to open its first supermarkets in Bracknell and Thatcham and a third store in Slough.