Lidl is spending £15 billion on its British business over the next five years, the supermarket chain has revealed.
Bosses pledged to increase sales of British sourced fresh meat, poultry and fresh produce by more than 10% across the next 12 months and introduce longer contracts with suppliers to provide stability.
The decision follows a recent commitment from Lidl to source 100% of its fresh poultry from UK farms.
Ryan McDonnell, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said: “Our long-term partnerships with farmers are all the more important during economic uncertainty, and with 2019 marking our 25th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to supporting our suppliers here in Britain and offering customers British-sourced products in the future.”
In March 2017, the discounter also signed the National Farmers’ Union’s Back British Farming Charter and has spent several years playing up its British credentials.
Tom Hulme, who runs AC Hulme & Sons, which has been Lidl’s main supplier of apples and pears for more than 10 years, said: “We wouldn’t have even contemplated upgrading our packhouse if it wasn’t for our confidence in Lidl’s future custom.
“The company has stayed true to its word with its growing orders over the years, giving us certainty in an industry that faces many uncertainties – like the British weather.”
The supermarket has a market share of 6% and is opening 50 to 60 new stores this year. Bosses have also committed to spending £500 million in London over the next five years to take on smaller high street stores.
Last week bosses also unveiled a new £70 million warehouse in Motherwell, Scotland, and on Tuesday it was revealed that sales grew 8.2% in the 12 weeks to October 6 compared with a year ago, according to Kantar.
Simon Neville is PA City Editor.
