The supermarket giant already has more than 1,000 stores scattered across the UK.

Lidl has now revealed a ‘wish list’ containing more than 1,000 locations where it wants to open new supermarkets as part of its new ‘site requirements brochure’.

This list comes after the supermarket announced a £600 million investment in growing its shop count across Britain earlier this month.

It also recently revealed plans to open more than 50 new stores over the next 12 months, promising to create around 2,000 jobs.

What Lidl is looking for in a new store

Lidl has outlined the specific requirements it is looking for in these new UK stores:

• Store size must be 18,000 sq ft + (1,672 m²)
• 1.5+ acre site
• Dedicated car parking required (100+ spaces at ground level)
• Population of more than 20,000 people in the catchment area, and 5,000 in the main centre
• Freehold, leasehold, or long leasehold properties

Lidl is offering a finder’s fee to whoever identifies a “previously unknown” site that leads to a development, and said they will respond to ‘finders’ within seven days.

Full list of locations Lidl is looking to open new stores

From Aberdeen to St Ives, Cardiff to York, Lidl is looking all over the UK for the perfect spot to build its next store.

You can see the full list of more than 1,000 locations where Lidl is looking to open new stores in its online site requirements brochure.

Chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, Richard Taylor, said: “At Lidl GB, we currently have one of the most ambitious store opening programmes of any supermarket.

“We’re more committed than ever to bringing our high quality and low priced products to even more communities across the country.

“All of our stores deliver more than just affordable products.

“Each one also brings quality jobs and opportunities for British suppliers to showcase the best home grown produce and support local good causes in the communities each one serves.

“In uncertain times, shoppers and communities can count on us.”

Is Lidl looking to open a new store near you? Is there a site you think the supermarket could use? Let us know in the comments below.

Salamander Voyages, based in Belfast, offered “exclusive” private gulet holidays in Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Croatia.

In a post on Instagram, the company said: “Every voyage is private, personal and entirely yours – from the destinations you choose to the memories you create.

“Salamander does not just provide holidays. It helps guests write stories they will remember for a lifetime.”

Salamander Voyages closes after falling into administration

Now, after 23 years in business, Salamander Voyages has closed after falling into administration.

Scott Murray and Ian Davison of Keenan Corporate Finance Ltd were appointed joint administrators on April 22, according to Companies House and The Gazette.

Salamander Voyages posted the news of its closure on its website, saying: “After 23 years of wonderful sailing in the Aegean Sea, we are very sad to announce Salamander Voyages has taken the difficult decision to close its doors.

“Please note that on 22 April 2026 Scott Murray and Ian Davison of Keenan Corporate Finance Ltd were appointed as Joint Administrators of the Company.

“For any creditor queries, please contact the Joint Administrators’ office by telephone (028 9023 3023) or email (info@keenancf.com).”

What happens when a company goes into administration?

When a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.

Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.

“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”

A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.

A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control are handed over to the administrators.

Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.

“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.

“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”

Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.

Through administration, a company can be:

• Rescued and passed back to the directors
• Enter liquidation
• Be dissolved

Other UK travel companies that have closed in 2026

Four other UK travel companies have already closed in 2026:

All four have ceased trading, according to Companies House, and have lost their Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).

Meanwhile, EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

Did you ever book a holiday through Salamander Voyages? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

Synextra has received Microsoft’s Solutions Partner designation for Data & AI on Azure, adding to the Warrington company’s existing Azure Infrastructure partner status.

Microsoft awards the designation based on certified technical expertise, customer growth on Azure and delivery results. It recognises Synextra’s work in data management, analytics, AI-driven automation and platform engineering on Azure.

The designation places Synextra among Microsoft partners with formal validation for data and AI work, at a time when many managed service providers are trying to establish their credentials in the field. The company works mainly with mid-market and enterprise customers in the UK.

The latest designation builds on a relationship with Microsoft that had already focused on cloud infrastructure. Synextra’s data and AI work includes platform engineering, DevOps, business process automation and data management, with projects delivered using Microsoft Fabric, Power BI and Azure AI services.

Broader scope

Synextra positions itself as an embedded technology partner for clients that might otherwise use several suppliers. Its model combines managed Azure services with consulting and delivery work across infrastructure, operations and software-led automation.

Microsoft’s Solutions Partner framework is used to indicate specialism in defined areas of the vendor’s product set. In this case, the Data & AI category covers building and running data and artificial intelligence systems on Azure.

Chief Executive Chris Piggott said the award reflects a shift in customer demand beyond core cloud hosting and infrastructure management.

“Our core has always been Azure infrastructure. But the businesses we work with need more than that now – and so do we. This designation reflects where the team has been pushing: data, AI, automation, outcomes you can measure. It’s the natural next step for us,” Piggott said.

AI demand

The award comes as UK technology service providers seek to show they can move from talking about AI to delivering live projects. Customers are increasingly asking suppliers not only to manage cloud estates, but also to support data pipelines, automation projects and the deployment of AI tools into day-to-day operations.

Synextra has invested in those areas by developing internal tools, working with AI agents and helping clients implement automation and intelligence systems tied to measurable business outcomes. It did not disclose financial details of those investments.

Its Azure Infrastructure accreditation remains in place alongside the new Data & AI designation. Together, the two statuses show Microsoft recognition across both Synextra’s original infrastructure focus and its newer work in data-led services.

The business describes that expansion as central to its current offer in the UK market. It serves organisations that want external technical support across cloud operations, engineering and transformation projects without building large in-house teams.

For mid-sized businesses in particular, third-party validation from a major software supplier can influence procurement decisions. Buyers often use vendor accreditation as one way to compare technical partners in a market where AI claims have grown rapidly.

The designation recognises Synextra’s ability to help organisations build and operationalise data and AI systems on Azure across data management, analytics, automation and platform engineering.