Lidl invests £500m in British berry industry
Lidl is investing £500 million in the British berry industry to help increase the volume of UK grown berries.
The sum reflects the value of the supermarket’s sourcing contracts with British based berry suppliers through new five-year agreements as it looks to meet customer demand for quality locally sourced products.
Subscribe to TRBLidl said the long contracts will give its suppliers greater certainty to invest and expand at a time of rising costs and unpredictable weather.
Last year, the supermarket reported the largest year-on-year increase in berry sales and was recognised as the British Berry Retailer of the Year.
Sales of British blueberries have climbed by more than 200% at Lidl in the last three years. Blackberries have also been popular with sales increasing by almost 93% over the same period.
Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said: “We are backing British farming with a £500 million vote of confidence in our British berry growers. By extending our long-term agreements, we’re providing the security suppliers need to build a resilient future.
“It is our clear ambition to be the first-choice partner for British growers. By building a framework providing long-term security, we enable our growers to confidently invest, innovate and scale alongside us. And by investing in these partnerships we are making fresh, healthy produce more accessible to our customers – offering the best British berries at unbeatable prices.”
