Discounter Aldi has unveiled a £5 billion investment in British farming and food production, signing a number of long-term agreements with UK suppliers.
Aldi said its deals would give farmers and producers “greater certainty to invest” in their businesses while helping to strengthen British food supply chains.
The agreements, which typically last at least two years according to Aldi, will cover fresh fruit and veg, dairy, meat and eggs, with Aldi aiming to source 50% of its domestic produce through long-term agreements by the end of 2027.
Aldi has also partnered with farmer and TV personality Harriet Cowan to encourage shoppers to buy more British-grown fruit and vegetables.
Harriet Cowan said: “I’m passionate about highlighting the brilliant work British farmers do to bring high-quality food to our tables. I’ve loved teaming up with Aldi to learn more about the fruit and veg we grow here in the UK and to shine a light on what’s in season.”
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, commented: “British suppliers are at the heart of our business. These long-term agreements give farmers and producers the confidence to plan ahead, invest in their operations and build resilient supply chains.”
This latest investment includes Aldi’s £1.1 billion commitment to British egg production over the next five years.
Discounter invests £500m in Leicestershire distribution centre
The news of the investment comes as Aldi has opened its £500 million distribution centre at Bardon in Leicestershire, which it said would employ around 1,000 people.
Aldi said the new site will form part of its £1.6 billion investment in Britain during 2026 and 2027, and stated that it would “significantly improve efficiency”.
Once fully operational, Bardon will serve nearly 350 stores across the UK and is said to have the capacity to handle nearly seven million pallets of stock a year. It will also serve as a National Replenishment Hub, supporting Aldi’s existing warehouse network.
Aldi went on to state that the 1.3 million sq ft site was the UK’s largest distribution centre. Bardon is made up of five linked buildings, including four ambient and six temperature-controlled chambers for chilled and frozen products.
Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, stated: “The state-of-the-art technology in Bardon will significantly increase the efficiency of our warehouse network, meaning we can continue to deliver the best possible prices for our customers, every single day.
“Our ambition is to make quality groceries affordable and accessible to all, and that can only happen when everybody in Britain has an Aldi store on their doorstep.
“That’s why we’re committing significant investment in opening new stores and distribution centres up and down the country, taking us closer to our goal of having 1,500 stores across the UK.”
