Lidl US announced on Tuesday that it will open stores across Long Island. The company projects that stores will open by next summer.

This comes after the German-owned retailer reached a record market share in August of this year. This announcement is situated within larger efforts by Lidl to expand in the U.S. in response to competition with Aldi.

New York state Senator Phil Boyle told the press that Lidl will bring “excellent customer service and great savings" to the community.

Lidl US will serve shoppers in East Meadow, Oakdale, Patchogue and Lake Grove. There will be a total of eight new Lidl food markets.

There will also be remodels of pre-existing stores in Long Island.

Markets in Plainview, West Babylon, Huntington and Center Moriches will likely open early next year.

New York assemblyman Andrew Garabino commented that Lidl provides "efficiency for shoppers and greater wages and benefits to its team members.” Lidl highlights that employees for the new stores in Nassau and Suffolk counties, regardless of the number of hours they work weekly, will receive full medical benefits.

Additionally, the company raised the starting minimum wage for store associates in Long Island. This change makes the US$15 per hour US$3 more per hour than the state-required minimum. 

The grocer also announced some of the new features of their upcoming stores. Among which they state are "a newly fitted-out facility, featuring an easy-to-shop layout and streamlined shopping experience", and a "rotating assortment" of products on special every Wednesday.