UK discounter Aldi has announced that it will invest £3 billion with British beef suppliers over the next five years as part of its commitment to UK producers.

Part of this investment includes a five-year contract with its supply partner Kepak, providing a £260 million investment into their line of Aberdeen Angus beef.

Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: “As the UK’s largest British beef retailer, we’re proud of our long-term relationships with British farmers across the country.

“The UK farming community plays a vital role in our food supply chains – our continued investment in British beef is in recognition of this and means we can continue to provide the best quality British products for our customers.”

Aldi said it hoped the investment would allow farmers to “plan confidently” and “provide security” for supply chains up and down the country.

This comes as Lidl announced in July that it would be investing £1.5 billion in British beef suppliers over the next five years.