Aldi has invested an extra £1.6 billion with British suppliers since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic as it continues to grow across the UK.
The figure includes £125 million more spent with British meat, poultry and dairy farmers as the supermarket sourced 100% of its core range of fresh meat, eggs, butter, milk and cream from British suppliers.
Aldi has also reaffirmed its promise to prioritise home-grown suppliers as it works towards its commitment, made a year ago, to spend an additional £3.5 billion a year with British businesses by the end of 2025.
The pledge will help hundreds more small British businesses to grow with Aldi and invest in the future with confidence.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer at Aldi UK, said: “We were the fastest-growing supermarket in the UK in 2021 and that has only been possible by working closely, over long periods, with hundreds of British suppliers.
“As we continue to grow, opening new stores across the UK, we are determined to ensure that the vast majority of our grocery products continue to come from British suppliers, just as they do now.”
Last summer Aldi also launched a supplier development programme – “Grow with Aldi” – offering British Spirits producers the chance to see their product sold in Aldi stores across the country. The winner was Herefordshire-based fruit farmers turned craft gin distillery,Penrhos Gin who saw its bottles stocked in over 900 Aldi stores and as well as online.
Aldi, which is the UK’s fifth biggest supermarket, is also creating 2,000 UK jobs during 2022 as it aims to open an average of one new store a week to satisfy growing demand for its award-winning products and unbeatable prices.
It is also investing in its colleagues. From next month, all store colleagues will be paid a minimum of £10.10 an hour nationally, or £11.55 for those inside the M25, ensuring Aldi remains the best-paying UK supermarket.
