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James Debono
Construction magnate Charles Polidano ‘ic-Caqnu’ intends to develop a supermarket in Gnien il-Ward in Zebbug, next to the St Dorothy convent and school, in an area outside the approved development zones.
The application for the supermarket and car park was first submitted to the planning authority (MEPA) last March, but only published on the authority’s website this week.
Additionally, the architect for the proposed supermarket is none other than MEPA’s deputy chairperson, Catherine Galea.
This is the second application Charles Polidano has presented in the past few months for the construction of a supermarket. Informed sources said Polidano plans to construct the supermarkets on behalf of German chain Lidl.
In July, Polidano applied for a supermarket in an extensive area in Luqa, just off Qormi road in the vicinity of the airport, also outside existing development schemes.
Lidl’s first supermarket, located in Santa Venera and expected to open soon, was constructed by Polidano. MaltaToday is informed that the German price-busters intend setting up a total of four supermarkets in Malta.
Still privately owned by German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz, Lidl is one of the fastest expanding retail companies in Europe. In addition to operating 2,500 stores and having more than 151,000 employees in its domestic German market, it has outlets in 16 other European countries and is planning to expand into Asia and Canada.
Seen as Europe’s answer to the US Wal-Mart, Lidl is known as a “deep discount” store specifically targeted to lower income groups, offering bumper discounts and very cheap Lidl-branded goods.
But like Wal-Mart, Lidl also attracts a lot of criticism for its working conditions. According to Uni Commerce, the international umbrella organisation of retail unions, Lidl is trying to copy US retailer Wal-Mart’s model of “pressing down wages and benefits and squeezing as much as is possible from its personnel.”
The most infamous allegation about Lidl abusing its workforce came to light in August 2004, when it was claimed that menstruating workers in Poland and the Czech Republic had to wear white headbands if they wanted to be allowed to use the toilet during working time.
The serious charge was sternly denied by Lidl’s senior management, but the story had enough substance to feature in Lebensmittelzeitung, Germany’s leading commerce magazine.
Lidl registered as a company in May 2005 with Lm500,000 in issued share capital. Its shareholders are Lidl Italia and Lidl Servizzi Immobiliari, both Italian companies belonging to the German grocery giant. The two companies also registered Lidl Immobiliare Malta Ltd with an issued share capital of Lm2 million.
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