After storm damage, residents praise 'Lidl' chain for using generators
Following Sunday's storm that left many Latvian households and businesses without power, residents on social media praised the 'Lidl' supermarket chain after some of its stores in Jēkabpils and Bauska stayed open using generators. The incident has raised questions about how prepared major retailers and fuel stations are for prolonged power outages.
A powerful storm that hit many parts of Latvia on Sunday, August 23, caused widespread power outages affecting not only households but also stores, fuel stations, and communications networks. On social media, people shared their difficulties buying food, fuel, and other essential goods in the storm's aftermath.
The supermarket chain 'Lidl' drew particular attention, as residents reported that its stores in Jēkabpils and Bauska managed to stay open by using generators, while other major retailers such as 'Rimi' and 'Maxima' reportedly did not keep operating in those same locations, according to commenters. One user on the social platform 'X' posted photos of empty refrigerated shelves at other stores, comparing the scene to a 'Soviet-era' shop.
Fuel and communication issues
Beyond grocery stores, the power outages also disrupted fuel supply — in several areas, gas stations could not operate due to lack of electricity. Mobile communications and rail traffic were also affected, making it harder for residents to find out when services would return to normal.
Mixed reactions
Most commenters praised 'Lidl's' response as forward-thinking business planning. However, some suggested the move was primarily driven by profit motives rather than concern for residents.
It should be noted that these accounts reflect individual social media users' experiences and opinions — they do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the overall situation at all 'Lidl', 'Rimi', 'Maxima' stores or fuel stations, since technical circumstances may have varied by location.
Still, the storm has raised a broader question: whether major retailers, fuel stations, and other essential service providers should be better prepared to operate autonomously for extended periods when large areas lose power.
