Aldi UK is increasing the number of long-term supply agreements with British produce and horticulture suppliers as it looks to strengthen domestic sourcing and provide greater certainty for growers.

The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket has committed to securing at least 50 per cent of its domestic produce supply through multi-year agreements by the end of 2027, in a move designed to improve stability for growers and build more resilient supply chains.

The agreements, defined as contracts lasting two years or more, will be available to both large and smaller producers that demonstrate strong performance on availability, quality and value.

The initiative comes as UK farmers continue to face mounting challenges from extreme weather conditions. Last year’s heat and drought led to significant production losses, while one of the wettest winters on record damaged autumn crops and left fields waterlogged.

Aldi said the extended agreements would help suppliers invest in more efficient and sustainable farming practices while improving long-term planning.

Aldi UK chief commercial officer Julie Ashfield said British growers were “at the very heart” of the retailer’s fresh produce offering.

“Extending our long-term agreements to more supplier partners is about strengthening those partnerships and providing greater certainty for our suppliers, giving them the confidence to invest in more efficient and sustainable farming methods,” Ashfield added.

The move builds on Aldi’s wider commitment to UK farming, including a £750m, 20-year partnership with AC Goatham & Son, its sole supplier of British apples, which supports a dedicated orchard producing fruit for Aldi stores.

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