A shopper who claimed he was subjected to racial profiling at a Lidl store has been awarded $25,000 in compensation. The customer had visited a Lidl in Whalley Banks, Blackburn, Lancashire, on December 20 of the previous year to purchase three bags of shallots as part of a promotional offer.
The store's Christmas offer limited customers to three bags of shallots per purchase and restricted visits to once per day. According to the shopper, a staff member at the checkout accused him of entering the store twice that morning. The shopper, who was wearing religious attire, alleged that this accusation constituted racial profiling, a claim Lidl contested.
Despite Lidl's contestation, the man took the company to court under the Equality Act for racial discrimination. The County Court awarded him $25,000, along with $1,250 in costs. The total judgment against Lidl amounted to $26,382, including interest.
The shopper stated he had only entered the store once and that the accusation was made publicly, causing him distress. He reported feeling singled out due to his race. Following the incident, a manager was called, and an argument ensued when the shopper demanded an explanation for the accusation. He described feeling distressed, unsupported, and confused, noting that he was recovering from a documented mental health condition at the time, which led to a panic attack.
A week after the incident, Lidl Customer Care sent an email apology, which the shopper found insincere and insufficient given the harm caused. He also described a prolonged, insurer-based process that involved repeated contact and delays, which he felt exacerbated his distress and worsened his mental health.
A spokesperson for Lidl GB stated that the company has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination and takes such allegations very seriously. However, the spokesperson clarified that the judgment was made in default because Lidl was unable to submit its defense within the required timeframe due to an administrative error by a third party. The company emphasized that there were no findings of discrimination on the part of Lidl or its employees.
The shopper has not returned to the store since the incident. The legal proceedings were initiated using the UK government's online civil money claims service.