Lidl and Asda in Dispute Over Ivybridge Store Takeover

Staff given redundancy notices despite agreement about transfer

The Asda Twickenham store in Isleworth

May 22, 2025

A dispute has broken out between Lidl and Asda over the future of staff at the ‘Asda Twickenham’ store in Isleworth, after workers were told they were at risk of redundancy despite an agreement that they would transfer to Lidl under existing pay and conditions.

Lidl is set to take over the Asda site at Ivybridge Retail Park, which will close on 5 June. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was informed by the councillors for the Isleworth ward that Lidl had agreed with Asda to TUPE all 37 staff members to the new store — a legal process designed to protect employees’ rights when a business changes hands.

However, an internal email seen by the LDRS states that staff have now been told they are on notice of redundancy because Lidl intends to close the store for six months for refurbishment. The email says Asda is “incredibly disappointed that Lidl have made this decision, particularly as protecting store colleagues’ employment under TUPE was a key factor in the decision to transfer ownership to another retailer”.

The LDRS understands that Lidl is trying to find jobs for staff at other Lidl stores. Lidl expects to move quickly to minimise the transition period once the legal acquisition is complete – it is currently estimated to take six months.

The situation has left staff uncertain about their future, with Asda confirming it is working with affected employees and seeking alternative roles at nearby stores.

The dispute centres on whether Lidl is obliged to retain staff during the refurbishment period, and whether the six-month closure justifies placing all employees at risk of redundancy despite the TUPE agreement.

Asda has made clear it expected Lidl to honour the transfer in full. Lidl has not publicly explained its position or why the refurbishment requires redundancies.

Local ward councillors for Isleworth, Sue Sampson, Salman Shaheen and John Stroud-Turp, have written to Lidl UK CEO Ryan McDonnell urging the company to reverse course, protect jobs and shorten the refurbishment period to avoid leaving one of the poorest parts of Hounslow without an affordable supermarket for months. They argue that the Ivybridge community relies heavily on the store and that the loss of employment and access to low‑cost groceries would have a significant impact.

The LDRS contacted Lidl for comment but received no response before publication.

An Asda spokesperson said: “Like all major supermarkets, we regularly review our store estate to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our customers and is commercially sustainable. We’d like to thank our colleagues and the local community at our Twickenham supermarket and reassure customers they can still access Asda’s great value and products at our nearby Hounslow superstore or online at asda.com.”

Asda is understood to remain “disappointed” that staff are at risk of redundancy following the transfer and is continuing to support employees through the process.

Written with contributions from Philip James Lynch – Local Democracy Reporter