Aldi Pledges £5bn To Back British Growers And Boost Homegrown Produce
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Aldi has unveiled more than £5 billion in long-term agreements with British suppliers as the supermarket ramps up its support for UK-grown fresh produce and strengthens relationships with growers facing mounting economic and climate pressures.
The retailer said the multi-year agreements, which cover fresh produce alongside dairy and meat, are designed to give farmers and growers greater confidence to invest in future production and build more resilient supply chains. Aldi is aiming to secure 50 per cent of its domestic produce through long-term agreements by the end of 2027.
For the fresh produce sector, the move signals a growing recognition from retailers that longer-term commitments are essential if British growers are to continue investing in crops, labour, infrastructure and sustainability improvements during a period of rising costs and unpredictable weather.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said British suppliers remained central to the retailer’s operations.
“These long-term agreements give farmers and producers the stability they need to plan ahead, invest in their operations, and build more resilient supply chains,” she said.
Aldi has increasingly focused on strengthening its relationships with British growers in recent years, including long-term partnerships with UK fruit suppliers. Earlier this year, the supermarket confirmed plans to increase the number of long-term agreements with British produce and horticulture suppliers as growers continue to battle extreme weather conditions and ongoing financial pressures.
The supermarket already sources around 75 per cent of its sales from UK-based suppliers and says more than 40 per cent of the fresh produce sold in its stores is British-grown.
Aldi has also partnered with farmer and television personality Harriet Cowan to encourage shoppers to buy more British-grown fruit and vegetables and better understand seasonal UK produce.
Recent consumer research commissioned by Aldi found that while 80 per cent of UK shoppers say supporting British farmers matters to them, only 27 per cent regularly check whether their fruit and vegetables are grown in the UK. The study also highlighted growing consumer interest in seasonal produce and British-grown food.
The retailer said the expanded agreements would help maintain access to high-quality, affordable British produce while giving growers greater long-term certainty at a challenging time for UK agriculture.
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