Lidl has announced it is to open 12 new Scottish stores in a move which will create around 500 jobs.

The chain has 98 shops across Scotland, with construction already under way on sites in Dumbarton, Dundee, East Kilbride, Cowdenbeath and Larkhall.

Its most recent store opened in Paisley while existing shops in Alloa and Bathgate will be relocated as part of the firm's regeneration programme.

Lidl also hopes to have a new regional distribution centre at Eurocentral, North Lanarkshire, fully operational by November - replacing the existing warehouse in Livingston.

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Ross Millar, Lidl's regional director for Scotland, said: "Since opening our very first store in Scotland 25 years ago, we've opened our doors to towns and cities across the country, employing more than 2,200 people.

"We're incredibly excited by our ambitious growth plans, and in particular the opening of our 100th store next year, which reinforces our commitment to creating new jobs and providing communities with quality produce at prices that are affordable for everyone."

Value high street brand Matalan saw sales increase in the first quarter, but said it had been forced to discount stock earlier than planned amid disappointing weather.

Matalan reported revenue growth of 2.9% to £273.5 million for the 13 weeks to May 25, up from £265.9 million in the same period of 2018.

The brand said sales grew both in store and online, with the latter up almost 30%.

Underlying profits were flat on this time last year at £25 million, though this was recorded using its previous accounting standards.

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Under the new measure, earnings were £50.4 million.
Chief executive Jason Hargreaves warned that the disappointing weather had led to rivals cutting prices on seasonal summer stocks sooner than anticipated, pushing Matalan to use similar promotions.

"Whilst having a manageable impact on the first quarter's results, there will be more significant dilution to margins in the second quarter as we exit the summer season," he said.
He added that Matalan would continue to refurbish its stores and improve its online offering, as part of a "customer-centric approach".

"Whilst we react to immediate trading conditions, we remain confident in the longer term direction and progress we are making," he said.

The chain opened new stores in Leeds, Bracknell and Wolverhampton in the period.
It also closed the period with higher levels of cash than last year, coming in at £71.2 million versus £60.5 million.

Beauty retailer Space NK is bucking the high street gloom as it plans to expand its footprint across the UK amid double-digit sales growth.

Newly-appointed chief executive Andy Lightfoot, who took on the top job in early June, said the group is looking to expand its 69-strong network across the UK and Ireland, as well as its US chain over the next few years.

He said the next tranche of openings will cap a decade-long store expansion run for the group as it heads in the opposite direction to many high street rivals.

Speaking to the PA, he said the group had recently notched up double-digit like-for-like sales growth in its first quarter to the end of June - and "substantially" higher growth online.

It marks a welcome dose of good news from the sector as many groups have had to retrench and secure lifelines with landlords to survive.

Mr Lightfoot said: "In the last three months, we have seen this massive acceleration."