COUNCIL chiefs are investigating conditions at a Lidl store branded a “disgusting health hazard” after customer pictures showed rotting fruit and stained floors.
The images show fruit in an advanced stage of putrefaction, a large puddle of spilt milk, and unexplained, large red stains on the floor.
Throughout the store in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, are piles of boxes,plastic pallets and other debris which could pose a risk of tripping.
The images were taken by customer Stacey Powers, 29, on Sunday November 11 in the evening.
Stockport Council today confirmed that they were looking into conditions at the store.
Stacey, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, took to Lidl UK’s Facebook page to complain: “Never have I stepped foot in a supermarket as disgusting as Lidl Councillor Lane.
“I’d be ashamed to work somewhere like that, staff didn’t give a c**p either when I said how disgusting the shop was.”
She added: “These pictures are of the first aisle you walk down when you get in there. Lidl UK does nobody check the standards of the shop?
“The staff clearly shouldn’t be working there if that’s the state they leave the place. I won’t be shopping there again that’s for sure.”
In the images captured by Stacey they reveal three empty cardboard boxes that would hold tomatoes inside. One of the boxes has a can left inside of it and the other one has bundle of plastic bags abandoned.
Another image shows red spillage on the floor that has not been cleaned up beside some empty boxes for tomatoes. The red spillage could either be dried up wine or crushed tomatoes.
In one of the images a box filled with oranges where left rotting away and some had turned green and went moldy with some even sweating. However, only one apple had went off in the box.
Other images show empty boxes left abandoned at the side to be dealt with later and another one shows green pallet boxes left with stock inside stacked up really high and in the way of the lane.
Milk and water was spilt all over the floor but tissues were put on top of the liquid to dry the floor.
It had warning signs to indicate the surface was slippery.
Mo Bostock responded on social media: “I’ve been twice. Everyone has a off day. Never again. It’s awful”
Rachel Holt wrote: “Don’t go in that s* hole again because these pictures aren’t lying. Absolutely disgusting.”
Laura Barnard posted: “Health and safety hazard at its finest. They will get closed down for that.”
Amanda Hunter added: “Eww mouldy fruit.. Milk Going green on the floor. That’s minging. I wouldn’t bother your a**e going back there in a hurry.”
Julie Farrar said: “Yes it’s a shocking sorry dump of a place.”
A spokeswoman for Stockport Council said: “We are now aware of this case and will be making further enquiries.”
A spokeswoman for Lidl confirmed last week that the conditions at the store were “being addressed as a priority”.
She said: “We always aim to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience and have strict procedures in place to ensure that our stores are maintained to a high standard.
“We were therefore extremely sorry and disappointed to learn that this was not the case on this occasion.”
A Lidl spokesman said: “We always aim to provide our customers with the best possible shopping experience and have strict procedures in place to ensure that our stores are maintained to a high standard.
“We were therefore extremely sorry and disappointed to learn that this was not the case on this occasion, and can confirm that the matter is being addressed as a priority.”
