A shopkeeper who has traded in a town for more than a decade fears his takings will fall by almost a third when Lidl opens.

The German chain has announced that its newly built branch off Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay will welcome its first customers on Thursday, September 24 .

But businessman Velupillai Niroshan expects the budget supermarket to undercut the prices at his store, Best-One, in nearby Poplar Drive.

As a result, the retailer thinks he will suffer a considerable dent in takings as Greenhill residents opt to buy their groceries across the road.

“I’m going to lose business and it’s going to make the road very busy,” he said.

“They’re going to sell cheaper items than we normally sell. They’ve got foreign items, which are cheaper.

“I think I’m going to lose about 30% of earnings.”

Mr Niroshan, 46, says he lodged an objection against Lidl’s plans to build the 2,125 sq m store close to Greenhill Roundabout after the chain submitted its proposals to Canterbury City Council.

The bid was narrowly voted through by councillors last June , with six in favour and five against.

The supermarket giant had hoped to begin operating this summer - but the store’s unveiling was delayed amid the pandemic .

And with the new store’s unveiling just two days away, Mr Niroshan insists his long-running business will survive.

“There are schoolkids here and I’ve been here for over 13 years, so I know all the customers,” he explained.

"I think I’m going to lose about 30% of earnings..."

“Most of them like the branded stuff, not the cheaper items [that Lidl sells].

“And the schoolchildren aren’t going to cross the road and go to Lidl, so I won’t lose many of them.

“The shop’s very popular in Greenhill and business has been much-improved over the years.”

Lidl says its new store, which has been constructed on Roundabout Farm, will create as many as 40 jobs.

It will be open between 8am and 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The store has a 1325 sq m sales area and features facilities such as an in-store bakery, longer-style tills, customer toilets, baby changing facilities and electric vehicle charging spaces.

It will also be providing surplus food and customer donations to Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury and Westmeads Community Infant School, which will use the supplies to help feed families nearby.

The firm’s regional head of property Adam Forsdick said: “It is great for us to be able to create more jobs and investment opportunities in the area.

“We can’t wait to start serving our multi-award-winning products to the local community.”

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