A £4bn investment into the British food industry has been announced by Lidl GB. A five-year investment plan to plough £15billion into businesses was shared in 2019, and this latest announcement takes the predicted total investment to £17billion.
Claiming to hold the largest market share in the volume of traded fresh British pork, the company has long been a supporter of the UK’s food and farming industry with two-thirds of its core produce being sourced from the UK. In 2022, almost £500m worth of exports from British suppliers went to other Lidl markets, opening up additional revenue streams and allowing them to grow their business.
Cheese is one of the most popular British exports for Lidl, with over £50m of British cheese heading to European stores. The supermarket has been in partnership with Westcountry cheddar cheese supplier, Wyke Farms, since 1994 and the businesses are now working together to ensure carbon neutrality is being achieved completely within the supply chain.
Lidl CEO, Ryan McDonnell, said that farmers and producers are vital to the company’s success: “We see them as partners in our mission to provide households with high quality affordable produce, and for many, working with Lidl GB and being part of our growth has opened opportunities for their own expansion, both here in the UK and across the globe.”
Martin Kottbauer, chief trading officer at Lidl GB, agreed that investing in the British industry is a high priority for the company: “Providing our suppliers with the security and certainty needed for them to invest and grow has been a big focus for us over the years.”
Working directly with over 650 suppliers across the country, the company provides them with access to local and international markets.
