National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland has named Aldi as Scotland’s leading supermarket for Scottish sourcing following its latest ShelfWatch 2025 Mid-Year Report.
According to NFU Scotland, 41% of Aldi’s shelf stock is now Scottish in origin. The retailer has increased its Scottish-sourced products by 7% since January and 6% year-on-year, which it said reflected continued investment in local supply chains.
In total, Aldi’s combined Scottish and British sourcing stands at 88% – matching the Co-op – and placing both supermarkets ahead of their competitors.
While Aldi remained the top performer overall, NFU Scotland notes that other retailers have also shown “strong improvement”. Co-op has improved its sourcing more since January, while Asda’s year-on-year progress matches Aldi’s.
NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon said: “Aldi’s progress is encouraging and shows what’s possible when retailers genuinely commit to local sourcing. But it’s equally positive to see other supermarkets closing the gap, particularly Co-op and Asda, who have also made real progress this year. Across the sector, however, less than one in five products on shelves are Scottish-sourced – and that must change.”
Imported vegetables “surge”
The ShelfWatch audit tracks the origin, labelling and visibility of own-label goods across eight major UK supermarkets. While there were positive signs in pork and milk, NFU Scotland said the report “paints a concerning picture” in other key areas:
- Imported vegetables have surged across several retailers. While this may reflect the impact of this year’s dry weather, it highlights the “urgent need for investment” in the supply chain to build long-term resilience.
- Imported lamb rose by 8% year-on-year, with major retailers like Tesco and Morrisons now stocking product from New Zealand and Australia. Asda stocked no Scotch lamb, with 82% imported lamb on its shelves.
- British pork sourcing is up 17%, replacing some imports – a positive trend showing that progress is possible when retailers engage.
Connon added: “Consumers want to buy Scottish. Farmers want to supply Scottish. But supermarkets are still too reliant on imports – whether that’s lamb from the Southern Hemisphere or veg flown in from overseas. ShelfWatch shows encouraging steps forward from several supermarkets, but also that there’s still a long way to go.”
Aldi, which established its Scottish Buying Department in 2009, works with more than 90 Scottish suppliers and offers more than 450 locally produced items. The retailer said the ShelfWatch data plays an important role in shaping its approach.
Graham Nicolson, group buying director at Aldi Scotland, said: “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and remain committed to supporting Scottish farmers and producers. ShelfWatch provides valuable insight that helps us strengthen local supply chains, expand Scottish ranges, and ensure high-quality produce reaches our customers.”
The Union will return to these findings in its end-of-year report and will engage directly with all major retailers to review progress against its five key asks – including clearer labelling, fairer pricing, stronger commitments to Scottish sourcing, and improved visibility and branding protocols.
