A German grocery chain with the power to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's has officially invaded America - here's what it's like

The German grocery chain Lidl opened its first 10 US stores on Thursday after years of preparing to enter the American market.

The new store openings - located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia - are the start of an aggressive expansion plan that Lidl is planning to carry out across the US over the next several years.

The company plans to open 80 new stores along the East Coast by the middle of next year.

Lidl describes itself as a cross between Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter and promises to offer prices that are as much as 50% lower than its competition in the US.

We visited a Lidl store in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to see what it's like.