German discount retailer Lidl may postpone the planned opening of its first supermarkets in Norway until 2004.

Negotiations between Lidl and local councils in the areas where the retailer has proposed stores have dragged on longer than expected, mainly due to opposition to Lidl’s plans to build supermarkets with large car parks in city centre areas.

The discount retailer was expected to open its first supermarket in Norway this summer, reported the Norwegian News Digest.