The chain has 10,000 stores in Europe, and it is interested in expanding in South Jersey.
Lidl, the German grocery store chain that is hoping to open its first U.S. stores this summer, is in the planning stages for stores in five counties in South Jersey.
The newest plans for stores are in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester and Atlantic counties, while officials in Cumberland County have already approved three Lidl grocery stores.
The company said it plans to open around 100 stores up and down the East Coast within a year, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs.
The company has been interested in sites around New Jersey and in the Philadelphia area, a spokesman confirmed, though he said he cannot address specific sites yet.
"We are actively preparing a number of sites in the area as part of our expansion," Will Harwood, spokesman for Lidl US, said Tuesday. "Ultimately, our expansion is driven by our belief that Lidl will be a great shopping destination for customers in the area. We are committed to delivering a shopping experience that reduces the compromises customers often face around price, quality and convenience."
In Camden County, Cherry Hill Township officials will consider allowing the chain to build a new 35,962-square-foot store at 400 Route 38. The matter will come before the Planning Board April 3.
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According to the Courier-Post, the site would be between Cuthbert Boulevard and an existing Wawa along Route 38.
The newspaper also reported that Lidl is eyeing the former Nike missile base on Berlin-Cross Keys Road in Gloucester Township for another store.
In Burlington County, two Lidl stores are planned for Route 541 in Burlington Township and for the Garden State Inn site on Route 130 in Cinnaminson.
The Burlington Township store has approval from local officials but still needs an OK from the county, according to the Burlington County TImes, while the Courier-Post reports that the Cinnaminson Planning Board will consider plans in May or June.
In Gloucester County, Mantua Township officials said a Lidl store is in the planning stages. If it opens on the site on Route 553, it would be the first grocery store in the township since an Acme closed in 2013.
Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County could get a Lidl at 6814 Black Horse Pike, the site of the current Trocki Hebrew Academy, according to state DEP documents.
Shore News Today reported that the plans, currently before the Planning Board, call for subdividing the 14-acre property so the academy will have about nine acres and Lidl's planned 36,000-square-foot store would be on nearly five acres.
Projects in Cumberland County already have approval. Construction is already underway at the Vineland location, on West Landis Avenue near Wal-Mart and ShopRite. Stores are also planned for NJ-47 near the Wal-Mart in Millville and on Bridgeton Pike near Carll's Corner in Upper Deerfield.
Lidl is also planning stores in Central and Northern New Jersey, according to reports.
The Asbury Park Press reported that officials have approved Lidl supermarkets in Lacey Township in Ocean County and Hazlet and Eatontown in Monmouth County, while Jersey Digs reported a store is coming to Union Township in Union County.
Lidl plans to open its first 20 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia this summer. The company set up headquarters in the U.S. in 2015, but it operates approximately 10,000 stores in 27 countries in Europe.
It's competitor, Aldi, has been in the U.S. since 1973 and has 1,300 stores here.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.