Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG (Lidl) is a German international discount retailer founded in 1973. Its business model is based on a ‘pass-the-savings-to-the-consumer’ approach, which translates into limited staffing and product handling at stores, optimised logistics and transportation systems, and overall reduced operational wastage. Today, as part of the Schwarz Group, Lidl is one of the leading food discount retailers in Germany and Europe. It currently operates around 11,550 branches in 32 countries worldwide and employs more than 341,000 people globally.