Bored in my sick bed (sniff, poor me, etc etc), I did some price comparisons on Lidl in the Republic of Ireland and Lidl in Northern Ireland. As you’ll see, there isn’t price parity, but the sterling/ euro difference isn’t too severe:
| Lidl Northern Ireland Price | Lidl Republic of Ireland Price | Exact Conversion £-€, April 30 2009 | |
| Charcoal BBQ | £29.99 | €39.99 | €33.48 |
| Jugs, Shakers, Bowls | £2.99 | €3.49 | €3.34 |
| All Purpose Storage Box | £27.99 | €34.99 | €31.25 |
| Bar Table Set | £49.99 | €59.99 | £55.82 |
| Frying Pan with Lid | £7.99 | €9.99 | €8.92 |
Lidl would, no doubt, argue that the cost of rent and of doing business is higher in the Republic than Northern Ireland, that the differential is quite minor when compared with other retailers, and that it’s impossible for any retailer to constantly change their prices as the currency values fluctuate. It’s certainly hard to argue that the differences warrant a trip to Lidl up north. What do you think?