- Lidl GB is to increase British berry volumes over the next five years as a £500 million sourcing investment is announced.
- Discounter signs five-year agreements to give farmers certainty amid rising costs and unpredictable weather.
- Follows Lidl GB being recently named British Berry Retailer of the Year after reporting the largest year-on-year increase in berry sales.
Lidl GB has announced a £500 million sourcing investment in the British berry industry, pledging to increase the volume of UK-grown berries amid rising demand for healthy, home-grown produce.
The investment reflects the value of sourcing contracts with British-based berry suppliers over the next five years, with the discounter signing new five-year agreements to give its suppliers greater certainty to invest and expand at a time of rising costs and unpredictable weather.
With Lidl GB now the UK’s fifth largest supermarket, today’s announcement underscores its continued focus on building long-term partnerships with British suppliers to offer its customers the quality locally sourced products they demand. It also reflects the discounter’s significant over index in the category after reporting the largest year-on-year increase in berry sales last year and being recognised at the British Berry Retailer of the Year.
According to the supermarket, there is a growing demand for fresh, healthy foods among shoppers. Blueberries in particular are becoming one of Britain’s fastest-growing fruit categories, with Lidl seeing sales of British blueberries surge by more than 200% over the last three years. Blackberries are also seeing strong growth, increasing by almost 93% over the same period, while Lidl GB’s Deluxe Blush Strawberries saw a 50% volume increase last year.
Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We are backing British farming with a £500million vote of confidence in our British berry growers. By extending our long-term agreements, we’re providing the security suppliers need to build a resilient future.
“It is our clear ambition to be the first-choice partner for British growers. By building a framework providing long-term security, we enable our growers to confidently invest, innovate and scale alongside us. And by investing in these partnerships we are making fresh, healthy produce more accessible to our customers – offering the best British berries at unbeatable prices.”
Commenting on the announcement, Tom Busby, Director from Dearnsdale Farm said: “We have been farming Dearnsdale Farm in Staffordshire for 100 years, producing quality British produce to feed the nation. Dearnsdale Fruit is proud to have a strong, open, collaborative relationship with Lidl GB with a focus to provide Lidl’s customers the best quality, affordable, sustainable berries in the market today. Now we have a long-term agreement with Lidl GB, this will give us as a British grower the opportunity and confidence to continue to invest and adapt in the everchanging world of berries into the next century.”
British Berry Growers Chair, Nick Marston, said: “Over the last three years, we have been impressed by the increase in Lidl’s British berry volumes, from around 11,500 tonnes in 2023 to more than 15,700 tonnes in 2025 – an increase of more than 36% in just two seasons. Across strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, Lidl now accounts for around 12.6% of all British berry tonnage sold through British Berry Growers members.
“This kind of retailer investment and commitment to British berries is exactly what our growers need and, as we head into another British berry season, that continued support for homegrown produce is more important than ever.”
This long-term sourcing builds on Lidl GB’s landmark £30 billion sourcing commitment to the British food and farming industry by 20301, to back a resilient, ethical, sustainable British supply chain.
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