There are eleven blue ships transporting goods around the world. They are identified as Tailwind Shipping Lines, but are actually linked to a brand well-known to the Portuguese: Lidl. In 2022, the Schwarz Group, based in Germany and owner of Lidl, created a global transport network. Today, it operates 11 ships and five more are on the way, with construction expected to begin in 2026 at a cost of up to 500 million dollars. In an economic and geopolitical context marked by uncertainty, the company does not want to be dependent on distribution chains it does not control. The goal is to transport cargo from the Asian market to Europe, where Lidl has established stores in most countries. With this in mind, the Schwarz Group made a bold move, the first of its kind by a retail giant. It should be noted that most (nine) of the vessels in circulation do not belong to Tailwind Shipping Lines itself. Only the remaining two are owned by the company. In total, there are about 12,600 stores spread across 31 countries on three continents (Europe, North America, and Asia). In Portugal, it has more than 280 stores and 8,000 employees. Lidl increases entry-level salary by 11% to one thousand euros gross in January; Lidl invests eight million in a new store in Évora.