If you shop at Lidl in Spain, there is a good chance you have never given much thought to how the products on those shelves actually get there. Behind every supermarket is a huge delivery operation, with lorries constantly moving goods between warehouses and stores. But Lidl has just started testing something in Germany that could eventually change the way some of those journeys are made.

Even though the experiment is taking place elsewhere, it involves a major change to the way Lidl moves its products, and the results could be worth watching for anyone who regularly shops at the supermarket.

Lidl is testing a very different kind of delivery

The German trial involves a cabless electric truck that drives itself, operating on public roads between Lidl’s distribution centre in Edermünde, near Kassel, and a nearby store. There is no driver or safety operator sitting inside the vehicle and the truck operates at SAE Level 4, allowing it to drive autonomously within the conditions covered by its official approval. This is not a closed-course demonstration, the vehicle is literally carrying Lidl’s goods as part of an actual delivery operation.

It can transport 15 Euro pallets and make up to three trips each day. During the four-month project, Lidl expects more than 3,000 pallets to be transported using the vehicle. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority, known as the KBA, has authorised the operation. According to Lidl and Einride, this is the first permit of its kind in Germany for a cabless Level 4 autonomous truck operating on public roads.

Could Spain eventually see the same thing?

Whilst there is currently no announcement that Lidl is bringing these trucks here. The German project is a trial designed to establish how autonomous freight works in a real retail environment. Lidl is using the route to gather practical experience before considering how the technology could be developed further and which countries will benefit from it.

Another reason the trial is also worth watching in Spain, is because Lidl has a large network of supermarkets and distribution centres. Any decision to expand autonomous deliveries in the future would depend on the technology, the results of trials such as this one and the regulatory framework in each country. For now the, Spanish Lidl customers won’t suddenly find a driverless lorry arriving at their local store,

Lidl wants to take the trial further

The current journey is relatively simple, taking goods from the distribution centre to a nearby shop. The next stage could be more complicated. Lidl and Einride plan to develop the route towards a so called multi-stop “milkrun” model, in which one autonomous vehicle can serve several locations during a single operation.

Lidl also says further deployments involving companies within the Schwarz Group are being discussed. That would move the technology beyond a single delivery route and towards a much larger logistics operation.

Who is Einride?

Einride is a Swedish transport company that specialises in electric and autonomous freight. For Einride, the Lidl project represents an important step because the technology is being used for commercial deliveries on public roads rather than simply demonstrated in controlled conditions.

For Lidl on the other hand, the project provides a chance to see whether autonomous electric transport can become a practical part of its supply chain. There is still a long way to go before anything similar appears on Spanish roads, but Lidl has now put the technology into a real supermarket delivery operation, and what happens in Germany could help determine whether this remains a small experiment or becomes something much bigger.

There is a reason Spain is now Five Guys’ most successful European market. People cannot get enough of those juicy burgers, generous fries and sugary sweet shakes, but for the chain, keeping portions unchanged during a period of soaring beef prices came at a steep cost. Here is how the burger giant hit record revenue while navigating an 83% drop in profits.

Record year for sales

Five Guys Spain has just smashed through the €100 million mark for the first time ever. Sales hit €105.9 million in 2025, up 10.4 per cent on the year before. That’s a huge deal for a brand that only landed in Spain back in 2016, and it means Spain is now the best-performing market Five Guys has anywhere in Europe, even though it’s one of the smallest countries the chain operates in.

Big knock in profits

Interestingly though more sales didn’t mean more money in the bank. Net profit dropped to just €698,327, a massive 83.2 per cent fall from the €4.16 million made the year before. Operating profit also slid, down 26.9 per cent to €4.9 million. The reason, beef got a lot more expensive, and rather than pass that cost onto customers, Five Guys chose to eat into its own margins instead. Recipes and portions stayed exactly the same, and toppings and sauces are still free.

A small price rise, but nothing else changed

Back in May 2025, the chain did slightly bump up its menu prices, roughly in line with inflation, just to help protect those margins. It’s keen to stress that nothing else changed. No smaller portions, no reformulated recipes, no charging extra for sauce. That’s a contrast to several other restaurant brands in Spain that have trimmed portions or added new charges over the past year.

Could you soon have one near you?

Only three new restaurants opened in 2025, a much slower pace than the eleven the year before, taking the total to 43 across Spain. New spots opened in Malaga and Benidorm, with Andalucia flagged as a particular focus for growth. Last month, Five Guys opened its first airport location, at Barcelona’s El Prat, hinting at more travel-hub openings to come. Next year, expect fresh openings across several regions, including the Balearic Islands. Since first arriving in Spain, the chain has opened an average of seven restaurants a year (aside from the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021), and bosses say that pace is set to pick up again from 2026 onwards, both on the mainland and the islands. Soon you could be tucking into that huge pile of seasoned fries and sipping on one of there shakes at a location near you.

A British resident in Mallorca is preparing for a gruelling 12-hour rowing challenge that could see him break a Guinness World Records title while raising money for mental health support for military personnel, veterans and their families.

James Priestley, who moved to Mallorca just over two years ago, will attempt to row at least 153 kilometres on an indoor rowing machine on Saturday, October 3.

The challenge will take place at his new gym in Port d’Andratx, where he hopes to attract support from the local community as he attempts to complete a record-breaking endurance feat.

From SAS to rowing machine

Priestley is no stranger to extreme challenges. Originally from Leeds and Bradford, he previously worked in the property sector before entering Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, which he won in 2020.

His latest challenge is particularly significant because it is an attempt to complete something he previously had to abandon.

In 2021, Priestley attempted the same 12-hour rowing challenge in Leeds. However, after nine hours and 45 minutes, an injury forced him to stop. The injury eventually required surgery.

Five years later, he has decided to try again, this time from Mallorca.

The current men’s record for the longest distance rowed on a Concept2 indoor rowing machine in 12 hours stands at 152.869 kilometres, meaning Priestley needs to exceed that distance to claim the title.

A challenge with a purpose

The attempt is not simply about setting a new sporting record.

Priestley co-founded VÕS HELP, a mental health support service aimed at serving military personnel, veterans, their families and anyone who needs someone to talk to.

The service connects users with trained counsellors and aims to reduce the time people have to wait before accessing support.

Priestley says the October challenge aims to raise enough money to fund 1,000 free mental health support calls.

He says each call costs around £20 through the service, compared with a significantly higher typical cost for professional support.

The organisation currently has around 1,000 counsellors and volunteers involved, according to Priestley.

Port d’Andratx community gym

The rowing attempt will also showcase Priestley’s new Port d’Andratx gym, which has been created with local residents in mind.

Rather than focusing solely on seasonal visitors, the facility is intended to operate throughout the year and provide a community-focused space offering personal training and fitness facilities.

The gym will be open to the public during the record attempt, with a second rowing machine positioned alongside Priestley.

That means members of the public will be able to join the challenge by rowing alongside him for part of the 12-hour effort.

The mayor of Andratx is also expected to attend during the final hour.

Two records in one day

Priestley is not stopping at the 12-hour target.

He also plans to attempt the eight-hour distance record during the same challenge, before continuing towards the 12-hour mark.

The former SAS winner admits the physical demands will be considerable, particularly because he does not have the physique or specialist rowing background of elite indoor rowers.

However, he believes the mental resilience developed during his time on SAS: Who Dares Wins could help him push through the toughest stages.

The challenge will begin at 7am on October 3 and continue until 7pm.

People wanting to support the fundraising effort can donate through VÕS HELP or visit the Port d’Andratx gym, where QR codes will be available during the event.