**UK**: Aldi has surpassed its £3.5 billion annual spending target with British suppliers ahead of schedule, achieving over £14 billion in investments. CEO Giles Hurley highlights the importance of local sourcing as the supermarket strengthens ties with UK businesses through significant long-term contracts.
Aldi has announced that it has achieved its commitment to increase annual spending with British suppliers a full year ahead of schedule. The UK discount grocer had originally pledged to boost its spending by an additional £3.5 billion annually by the end of 2025, but by 2024, it has already surpassed this target with over £14 billion invested in UK businesses.
Giles Hurley, the CEO of Aldi UK, remarked, “British suppliers have always been at the heart of our business. From homegrown apples to Wagyu beef, and from crisps to cocktails – our range is full of incredible British products sourced from our amazing suppliers right here in the UK.” He emphasised the company’s ongoing commitment to sourcing British products, stating that achieving the spending target ahead of time is a testament to Aldi’s dedication to local suppliers and the UK economy.
In line with its commitment, Aldi has recently engaged in significant agreements with British suppliers. Notably, the supermarket last year signed a 20-year deal with the family-owned orchard A C Goatham & Son in Kent, which will see the creation of a 200-acre Aldi Orchard dedicated to supplying the supermarket’s entire range of British apples.
Additionally, Aldi has secured a new long-term contract with Warrendale Wagyu, a British supplier known for its premium beef. This agreement is projected to be worth approximately £320 million over the next five years, with expectations to sell 2.5 million British Wagyu steaks annually once the product roll-out is complete later this year.
Hurley further noted, “Hitting this milestone early is a proud moment for us and for the thousands of British suppliers we work with. Their hard work and dedication are what helps us deliver great quality and value to our customers every day. As we look ahead, our British suppliers can know that we’ll continue to stand alongside them – just as we have for the past 35 years.”
The achievements of Aldi reflect a broader trend within the retail sector towards supporting local suppliers and investing in domestic production, a change that has garnered increasing attention in recent years.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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