Over the past 20 years in Ireland, Lidl has become renowned for being a price leader in the market, while also offering some unusual and interesting trinkets that have quickly led to the cult following of its infamous ‘Middle Aisle’ offering of promotional non-food products.
To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Lidl is revealing the most loved middle aisle sensations over the years. The retailer has certainly transformed the way Irish people shop – you would be forgiven for going in to do your weekly shop or grab a pint of milk and come out with a canoe! Now, with 163 stores across Ireland today, here’s a look back on some of Lidl’s customer favourites over the past 20 years.
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Hot Tub
MSpa Silvercloud Hot Tub is one of Lidl’s most popular summer middle aisle items ever! This internet sensation sold two a minute just in time for the height of the heatwave of Summer 2018. The retailer also promoted the tub with a psychedelic social media campaign and with one tap of a button and 10 minutes to inflate, thanks to Lidl, having a hot tub in your garden has never been easier or more affordable!
- Seaweed Underwear
Lidl is constantly looking at ways to help their customers make more sustainable choices and last year introduced Seacell sustainable underwear made from seaweed – because who doesn’t need these in their wardrobe? Seacell is an award-winning fibre made from renewable resources - seaweed and wood. The fibre is carbon neutral and completely biodegradable.
- Robot Vacuum
The lazy person’s answer to a spotless home, Lidl’s robot vacuum is one of the retailer’s most popular cleaning items. The perfect combo of performance and price, the small vacuum can clean your home without you having to lift a finger and at less than €100, it scrubs up on value too.
- Trumpet
If you’ve never been tempted to pick up a wind instrument at Lidl, have you even shopped there? Another classic Lidl middle aisle staple from the retailer’s popular musical range is the trumpet. A customer favourite to fill Santa’s sack, Lidl’s trumpet has been known to exacerbate a hangover or two on Christmas morning over the years!
- Inside Out Umbrella
Lidl is known for its quirky, innovative products and a customer favourite is the umbrella that has a reverse closing mechanism so you can stay dry, even when you close your umbrella. Umbrella splashbacks are a thing of the past for those lucky enough to get their hands on one of these unique gadgets!
- Cardboard Magic Colour-In Designs
Earlier this summer, Lidl Ireland’s long-time print supplier, McGowans Print, created a 100% recyclable cardboard colour-in design for kids through a new business venture, Cardboard Magic. The innovative idea has even made its way across the Atlantic with Cardboard Magic receiving the seal of approval from superstar John Legend with the crooner posting a picture on his Instagram of himself and son Miles enjoying a Cardboard Magic colouring session.
- Dog Sun Lounger
Lidl’s affordable pet range is always popular among Lidl customers and with three units sold every minute during the retailer’s pet event last year, it is no surprise that their bestselling pet item is the Dog Lounger which has a nifty removable sun shade that will keep your pup cool all summer long.
- Colour Changing Kettle
Lidl has helped kitchens around the country light up with their colour changing kettle. The stylish Silvercrest glass kettle features LEDs that change colour as the water comes to the boil. With automatic switch-off, boil dry protection and a removable limescale filter, this kettle is as clever as it is attractive.
- Ski Wear
Every year Lidl helps shoppers hit the slopes in style and the most satisfying savings with the retailer’s bestselling ski wear collection. The range almost always draws a crowd on the first day of sale so you would be lucky to score a full kit of the popular range for less than €50 for adults and from as little as €25 for kids.
- Secret Wine Bag
Earlier this year, Lidl dropped the wine accessory of the year with the retailer’s first secret wine dispensing bag. Each bag has a hidden insulated compartment with a 1.5 litre beverage bag that you can fill with your favourite wine to ensure that you’re never left with an empty glass again.
- Bootsy Snuggle Blanket
The Bootsy Snuggle Blanket was a revolutionary Lidl product for those who suffer with cold feet. It is a blanket that has built-in cosy boots to keep your feet toasty, even if you are going to the kitchen to get a cup of tea.
- Mini Kids Audi TT
What kid doesn’t want to cruise around the neighbourhood or even their garden in a cool sports car? Thanks to Lidl’s Kids' Audi TT Ride-On Roadster, that dream is a reality for those who have managed to get their hands on this toy car when stocked in Lidl stores.
- BBQ Pizza Oven
This summer, Lidl stocked the must-have garden accessory of the year for those who enjoy dining al fresco; an oven that functions as a barbecue, pizza oven or smoker, transporting you to tucking into smoked tapas in Tarifa or pizza margarita in Milan. Lucky customers could snap this oven up for just €129.99, a fraction of the price of similar ovens on the market!
- At-Home Cinema Projector
With cinemas closed over the past few months, Lidl made sure customers had just what they needed to transform their homes into a cinematic haven, keeping families entertained and date nights from dwindling across the country! It could not have been more affordable with Lidl’s quick and easy to assemble Celexon Projector Screen (€69.99) with adjustable height to facilitate any space and a nifty tri-pod stand so you don’t have to worry about mounts and drills.
- Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are always a popular purchase during the summer for Lidl customers. Whether you want to wash your car at home or give the patio a spruce up, for just €69.99 Lidl’s pressure washer doesn’t break the bank but certainly gets the job done.
- 101-Piece Toolkit
Lidl is renowned for their middle aisle tools – if you have never run in for a loaf of bread and come out with a drill, someone in your family certainly has! Then, just when those tool-fiends thought they had all the DIY essentials they needed from Lidl, the retailer made all DIY lovers’ dreams come true by introducing a 101-piece toolkit to the middle aisle.
- Long-Lasting Hair Removal Machine
While in lockdown, Lidl made sure their customers’ beauty routines were not interrupted too much. With appointments such as laser hair removal postponed, shoppers were able to stay on top of their regime from the safety of their own home with Lidl’s Sanitas IPL Long-Lasting Hair Removal Machine for just €99.99.
- Ice-Cream Maker
There is nothing better in the summer than a bowl of delicious homemade ice-cream, especially on a hot day but the effort of making it from scratch can be off-putting. For those who managed to snap up a Lidl ice-cream maker, the effort has been significantly minimised but the results are just as tasty! Lidl’s nifty gadget allows you to make fresh ice-cream from the comfort of your kitchen, without having to constantly stir it yourself for perfectly churned results.
- Remote Control Giant Spider
Lidl always has interesting toys in stores around Christmas time and their remote control giant spider is certainly one of those! No doubt many memories have been made with this toy as kids across the country scared their parents just as they are falling asleep on the couch after the Christmas dinner!
- Real Christmas Trees
Just when you thought your local Lidl stocked everything you needed for the perfect Christmas, the retailer introduced real, fresh Irish Christmas trees for the first time last year. Grown locally in Co. Wexford, the trees were snapped up at just €24.99 each for a 6ft tree!
J.P. Scally, Chief Executive Officer, Lidl Ireland said: “Today, we are proud to hit a major milestone of 20 years in Ireland. With 163 stores and over 2 million customers passing through our doors every week, our commitment to delivering high quality products at market-leading prices has helped to drive our remarkable growth over the past 20 years. We’re proud of the strong local relationships with our suppliers and staff we have established in this time and the positive impact we’ve made in the communities in which we operate.”
