German discounter planning to enter US market: CEO

BERLIN (AFP) — German discount chain Lidl plans to expand into the United States and Switzerland, the chief executive of its parent company Schwarz Gruppe, Klaus Gehrig, said in an interview to be published Monday.

"We are now preparing to enter the market," Gehrig told German newsweekly Focus.

Lidl, Germany's second biggest discounter after Aldi, aims to establish a US foothold by 2012 while it builds up its European business, Gehrig said.

He said the company also had Switzerland in its sights and planned ...