Lidl shoppers fuming over ‘nightmare’ change in stores across the UK

Hundreds of Lidl shoppers have come together to voice their upset over a change in stores across the UK.

According to customers, the bargain retailer has been ‘quietly’ phasing out standard 54L hand baskets and instead only offering larger 80L rolling basket trolleys.

This move is garnering criticism online, with many claiming they ‘hate’ being forced to use the ‘cumbersome’ bigger baskets. 

And some have even claimed it’s an ‘accessibility nightmare’, as older shoppers and those with disabilities struggle to manoeuvre around the store with them. 

Shoppers have slammed the change

Taking to Reddit, a social media user known as u/LuckyFuel5983 shared a snap of the rolling baskets in the Wood Green branch of Lidl, writing: ‘Every time I visit, there are no hand baskets at the entrance. Instead you’re forced to use these huge, cumbersome 80L rolling basket trolleys.’

They went on to claim that the rolling baskets cause various issues, including making shopping harder for parents with prams, those with disabilities, and elderly people. 

‘They [also] stack these heavy 80L baskets so high at the entrance gate that elderly shoppers, shorter people, or anyone with mobility issues literally has to stretch up and struggle to pull them down,’ they explained.

‘It feels like a deliberate push to force customers into using bigger capacity trolleys so they buy more, but at the direct expense of elderly, disabled and everyday shoppers who just want to grab a few items quickly without pushing a heavy cart.’ 

Lidl has quietly phased out standard hand baskets nationwide for 80L rolling trolleys and it’s creating massive accessibility issues (Wood Green branch)
byu/LuckyFuel5983 inlidl

And the author of the post wasn’t the only person who felt strongly about the issue, as more than 600 people shared their thoughts in the comments.

u/Best-Stop-7234 said: ‘Lidl removing the hand-held baskets is the only reason why I stopped shopping there. I’m a single person; I don’t need much. I don’t drive, so everything needs to fit in my backpack/totes.

‘These rolling baskets are way too big for my needs, and they cause traffic in aisles, and I like to do my groceries in-and-out. Not to mention you need to lean down or make a full squat to put anything in the basket.’

As u/lonely_monkee wrote: ‘They’re also discriminatory against tall people. The handles aren’t long enough, so you have to sort of bend down to get a good angle on it; otherwise, it scrapes along behind you whilst clipping your feet constantly. I hate them!’

Similarly, u/Oggabobba agreed: ‘Oh my god, I’ve had this exact experience as a tall person; they are constantly hitting my feet and getting knocked around. Bending down to put stuff in them can also be strenuous on a big shop.’

And u/lucianoshaw shared: ‘I’m 5’11” and use a walking stick, so these things are such a pain to use (sometimes literally). I’ve taken to bringing my own trolley.’

While u/can_i_be_a_unicorn added: ‘My local Lidl hasn’t had handbaskets in a while. I frequently have to use a walking stick in my day-to-day life and living at the top of a hill, I opt to use my wheeled personal trolley to take things home.

‘After once or twice seriously struggling to juggle my walking stick, personal trolley and the Lidl one, I just put all my items in my personal one and ignore the store ones.’

However, not everyone was against bigger baskets, with u/DustAdministrative52 pointing out that there was likely more to the story than most people saw.

‘Problem you have is more than just Lidl being awkward,’ they proclaimed, before sharing that smaller baskets made it ‘easier’ for shoplifters to fill and ‘bolt out the door’.

‘The main reason for so many being in store will definitely be down to cost, and removing the smaller ones makes sense when you think how much they’ll be paying to replace both of them at once, and comparative costs are probably so close between the two that the smaller ones can’t be justified for the upkeep and replacement.’

A petition has been launched

Elizabeth Owen, a full-time wheelchair user, says the lack of small baskets at her local Lidl store has left her ‘dreading’ the weekly shop.

She claims the 80L baskets make shopping much more ‘difficult’ and has launched a petition calling for the handheld baskets to be reinstated.

‘The absence of small baskets is a significant barrier to accessibility,’ the 34-year-old wrote on change.org.

‘Many disabled individuals rely on these baskets to comfortably and independently carry items while shopping. The larger wheeled baskets are cumbersome and cannot be easily maneuvered alongside a wheelchair, making the grocery shopping experience difficult, if not impossible.

‘The Equality Act 2010 mandates that businesses must make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled individuals can participate in society on an equal footing. By not providing small baskets, Lidl is inadvertently making grocery shopping less accessible, contravening these standards.

‘Imagine a trip to the supermarket that fills you with dread because you cannot carry the items you need. Now, imagine that feeling every single week. That’s the reality for many of us without the simple accommodation of a small basket.’

She adds: ‘Reinstating small shopping baskets is a practical solution that respects the dignity and independence of disabled customers. It reflects a commitment to inclusivity, ensures compliance with the law, and showcases compassion from Lidl towards all its patrons.’

What has Lidl said about the baskets?

While many shoppers are only just discovering the change to baskets at Lidl, the phasing out process has been happening gradually over the last 12 months.

The first reports of the handheld baskets disappearing were made at the end of 2025. At the time, a member of Lidl’s customer care team confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the 54L baskets were being removed as part of a ‘company decision’, but gave no other explanation.

They said: ‘We passed this to our Area Management, who have advised, due to a recent company decision, we will no longer be stocking the 54L baskets in our stores and so in [are] now offering 80L baskets as our standard option going forward.’

Metro has contacted Lidl for further comment.

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