Aldi is committing over £5bn to long-term supplier agreements as part of its ongoing investment into British farming and food production.
The discounter said it would enable over 50 suppliers to invest in the growth of their operations and capacity, while giving farmers and producers greater long-term certainty to plan ahead and invest.
The agreements typically run for around two years. Aldi pledged it would source 50% of its domestic produce through long-term agreements by the end of 2027.
It follows the retailer’s commitment to invest £1.1bn into British egg production over five years, underpinned by five-year long-term agreements with its egg suppliers.
“British suppliers are at the heart of our business,” said Aldi UK chief commercial officer Julie Ashfield. “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 added: “We’re committed to backing UK agriculture for the long term and ensuring customers continue to benefit from high-quality, affordable British food.”
The announcement comes as a poll of 2,000 Brits by OnePoll revealed only 27% actively considered if fruit & vegetables were grown in the UK when shopping, despite 80% saying supporting British or local farmers was important to them.
Aldi has also announced a partnership with farmer and TV personality Harriet Cowan to highlight the importance of buying British-grown fruit & vegetables.
Cowan has created a series of recipes featuring British fruit & veg, including Creamy Pea & Pesto Pasta Skillet, Pork Tenderloin with Rhubarb Sauce, Beef & Pepper Stir Fry, and Hot Honey Carrots.
“I’m passionate about highlighting the brilliant work British farmers do to bring high-quality food to our tables,” Cowan said. “I’ve loved teaming up with Aldi to learn more about the fruit & veg we grow here in the UK and to shine a light on what’s in season.”
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