Aldi has pledged more than £5bn towards long-term agreements with British suppliers as the discounter looks to strengthen domestic food production and provide greater certainty for farmers.

The retailer said the investment would support growers and producers across fresh produce, dairy, meat and eggs through agreements that typically run for two years or more.

Aldi is targeting 50% of its UK-sourced produce to come through long-term agreements by the end of 2027.

The supermarket has also committed £1.1bn to UK egg production over the next five years as part of efforts to reinforce domestic poultry supply chains.

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said the agreements would help suppliers “plan ahead, invest in their operations, and build more resilient supply chains”.

The move comes as Aldi published new consumer research suggesting many shoppers remain unaware of the breadth of produce grown in the UK.

While 80% of consumers said supporting British farmers was important to them, only 27% said they actively considered whether fruit and vegetables were grown in Britain when shopping.

The survey also found shoppers were often unaware that products including cucumbers, courgettes and aubergines can all be grown domestically.

Meanwhile, Aldi has also partnered with Clarkson’s Farm personality Harriet Cowan to promote British-grown produce and seasonal eating.

Cowan recently visited Aldi supplier Strawson Ltd to learn more about UK carrot production. The retailer said the initiative forms part of its wider push to encourage shoppers to buy more British-grown food.

Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter