Aldi Bites Into Britain: Record Apple Volumes Set To Hit Shelves

In a move that underlines its commitment to British produce, Aldi has announced that it has sold approximately 30,000 tonnes of British apples over the past year — the equivalent of one in five apples sold in the UK.

The retailer is now forecasting an even larger volume for the 2026 season, with expectations of 32,000 tonnes of British apples in the next 12 months.

Strong Growth Backed By Long-Term Partnership

At the heart of this growth is Aldi’s 20-year partnership with supplier AC Goatham & Son, announced last year as part of a £750 million investment in British orchards. The deal gives AC Goatham a clear mandate: supply Aldi with British apples (and pears) and work toward year-round availability.

Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi, said: “This summer has been excellent for growing apples and, thanks to our near-two-decade partnership with AC Goatham & Son, we’re seeing the benefits of sustained investment in British produce. That long-term confidence means it’s our ambition to stock British apples all year long, and we hope to achieve this for the 2025/2026 season with the support of AC Goatham.”

From AC Goatham’s viewpoint, the response has been equally upbeat. Ross Goatham, Managing Director, commented: “This season has been one of the strongest we’ve seen in recent years, thanks to near-perfect growing conditions and continued investment across our orchards. Our long-term partnership with Aldi has given us the confidence to keep planting, modernising and investing in technology – ensuring we can supply even more British apples for even more of the year.”

Strategic Implications And Sourcing Commitments

The focus here is not only on volume. Aldi says that beyond favourable growing conditions, what’s driven the uptick in supply is the long-term investment in British orchards. With one fifth of all UK apples sold coming via Aldi in the past year, the retailer is positioning itself as a major backer of British apple production.

In 2024, Aldi spent £14 billion with UK suppliers, reinforcing its pledge to British sourcing standards irrespective of international trade negotiations.

The intended outcome: a year-round British apple supply (52 weeks) for Aldi customers, a significant shift from the season-bound model that still dominates in many fresh produce categories.

What This Means For The Sector

For UK growers and the wider fruit & veg supply-chain, this announcement signals momentum. A committed partner like Aldi with a 20-year supply agreement provides certainty and scale. For consumers, a stronger British-grown apple offering means fresher fruit, potentially lower food-miles and more consistent availability.

It also adds to the narrative of retailers doubling down on British sourcing at a time when supply-chain resilience, sustainability credentials and provenance are more critical than ever.

Ultimately, if Aldi hits its target of 32,000 tonnes in 2026, that will mark a meaningful increase in British apple supply.

For the sector, the challenge will be extending and replicating such models across other fruit categories and ensuring that the investment in orchards, technology and partnership pays off through yield, quality and consumer uptake.