Lidl will have invested around £21 billion in the British food industry over a five-year period by the end of 2024, exceeding its original commitment of £15 billion by 40 per cent.

The discount supermarket said that it has invested around £5 billion over the past financial year alone.

The investments cover a range of sectors across British agriculture, with Lidl revealing it has direct relationships with around 650 British suppliers.

Around two thirds of all products from its permanent range are from British suppliers, with 100 per cent of its fresh milk, butter, eggs, cream, pork and chicken sourced from British suppliers.

In January, Lidl announced it was investing over £70 million in the root vegetable industry to offer long-term contracts to farmers to provide them with certainty and security amidst challenging weather conditions.

In October, Lidl announced an investment of £1 billion into the British free-range egg industry, which builds on existing financial incentives aimed at addressing the shortage of British free-range egg farms.

Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said that he is proud of the strong relationship that Lidl has built with British suppliers over the years.

“Now more than ever, we remain committed to supporting British farmers, ensuring we’re a dependable partner to those who put quality, home-grown food on Lidl shelves across the country,” he added. “By continuing to invest in British agriculture, we’re helping to ensure our suppliers can thrive in the future, providing the British-sourced products our customers love all year round.”

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