Lidl is blaming “factors outwith our control” for backing out of plans to build a new supermarket in Aberdeen — but bosses promise they are “actively considering” other sites. The German retailer has pulled out of an offer to purchase the site of the former Aberdeen Journals offices on the Lang Stracht. Locals ‘disappointed’ by Lidl’s Lang Stracht U-turnHundreds of locals had rallied behind Lidl’s bid for the old Press and Journal offices. The supermarket’s closed-envelope offer was accepted in May 2025, months after the brand lost the lease of its existing Lang Stracht shop to Farmfoods. Aberdeen City Council confirmed the finance committee had on Wednesday approved an offer from another bidder for the Lang Stracht site.