Scottish Local Food Sourcing Rises Amid Call For Urgent UK Import Review
Domestic sourcing is continuing to hold strong across Scotland’s supermarkets, as NFU Scotland calls on the UK Government to review the food and combinable crops imports policy over concerns that growing imports are putting Scottish agriculture at risk.
The latest NFU Scotland ShelfWatch audit found that 26% of own-label products surveyed across major supermarkets were Scottish, up from 19% at the same point last year.
When Scottish and British products are combined, that figure rises to 89%, according to the mid-year report.
Scottish sourcing improved across several categories, including notable year-on-year increases for chicken, soft fruit, vegetables, and fresh pork, alongside high levels of Scottish milk and eggs.
Fresh produce produced some of the most positive results in the August 2026 ShelfWatch audit, NFU Scotland (NFUS) said.
Scottish vegetables increased by 6% year-on-year as Scotland’s competitive advantage and access to water leave the sector well placed to continue growing.
Soft fruit also performed strongly, with Scottish sourcing increasing by 11% compared with August 2025, which NFUS said reflects the strength of Scotland’s globally recognised berry sector.
Across all eight supermarket chains audited – Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, M&S Food, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – every retailer has increased their support for Scottish food.
Aldi led the way, recording the biggest year-on-year increase of just over a quarter, taking its own-label Scottish sourcing to 68%, followed by Lidl at 51%.
Both discounters were said to “significantly outperform” other retailers, and continue to demonstrate “strong support” across a number of categories, particularly beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, and fresh vegetables.
Co-op and M&S both recorded Scottish sourcing levels of around 30%, while Tesco continued to improve, reaching 23%.
Import Dependence Risks Weakening Domestic Production
Despite welcoming the positive local sourcing trend, NFUS warned that the progress cannot be taken for granted.
It argues that current policies under discussion on food price caps, imports, production standards, and misleading labelling could have significant implications for Scottish producers and the food available to consumers.
On food imports, NFUS said UK volumes have risen by 70% since 1997, and around 40% of the food consumed in the UK is now imported.
UK self-sufficiency, meanwhile, has declined across ten of eleven key agricultural commodities over the past 30 years, with the UK’s food trade deficit more than doubling from £20.6 billion in 2000 to £42.1 billion.
The organisation said this increasing import dependence risks weakening domestic production and leaving the UK more exposed to global supply disruptions, disease risks and geopolitical instability.
NFUS is calling for a more strategic approach to imports that protects domestic production, strengthens food security, and ensures fair competition.
“Imports have an important role to play in providing consumer choice, but we cannot allow growing reliance on overseas production to undermine our own ability to produce food,” stated NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon in a news release.
“We need an urgent, independent review of UK food imports policy to ensure Scottish farmers and crofters can compete on a fair and equal footing,” he added.
NFUS has launched a new policy paper, ‘Imports: Protecting Standards, Supporting Domestic Production’, that identifies five priorities for government action:
Establish core production standards for imported food.
Put food security at the heart of trade policy, including future trade agreements.
Strengthen import controls and biosecurity to protect domestic agriculture.
Improve country-of-origin labelling, including in restaurants and food service.
Increase transparency in food sourcing, with clearer reporting from retailers and the wider supply chain.
“Food security is about protecting the farms, businesses and infrastructure we will need to feed ourselves in the future,” Connon added.
“Both the UK and Scottish governments must ensure agricultural and trade policies work together to support domestic production, protect our high standards and give farmers and crofters the confidence to invest.
“We welcome trade, but it must be fair,” he concluded.
The paper will inform NFUS's continued engagement with the UK and Scottish Governments, retailers, and the wider food supply chain.
Read the paper in full here.
View the latest ShelfWatch report here.
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