German supermarket chain Lidl has 29 projects on the “waiting list” for exemption from a ban on construction of big retail spaces in Hungary, Lidl Magyarország chairman Jenő Grósz said on Tuesday. “We hope the fate of the 29 projects on the waiting list will take a positive turn,” Grósz said. A ban on the construction of retail buildings with an area of more than 300 square meters is in place for 2012-2014. However, investors may apply for exemptions to the rule. Lidl has 157 stores in Hungary. Grósz said products from Hungarian suppliers accounted for 54% of Lidl’s HUF 186 billion in sales last year. Lidl wants to raise the proportion to 60% by end-2014, he added. Lidl exported HUF 8.4 billion of Hungarian products to stores in nine countries last year.



