In 2023, LIDL GB will invest £4 billion in the British food industry.
For FY23, Lidl plans to spend $4 billion on British food companies.
This expedites initial spending intentions made public in 2019 and is expected to exceed its five-year investment promise by an additional £2 billion.
Announcing its intentions to invest £4 billion in British food companies in FY23, Lidl GB is reaffirming its commitment to the nation’s suppliers.
In 2019, Lidl GB committed to a five-year, £15 billion investment in the British food industry over FY20–FY25. As a result of this acceleration, the sum is now anticipated to reach £17 billion. The discounter has invested £10 billion since March 2020.
The discounter overtrades British meat, poultry, and eggs and has long defended British agriculture and food. It now has the greatest market share in terms of fresh British pork. Lidl GB works directly with over 650 suppliers nationwide, offering them unparalleled access to national and international markets. Lidl GB sources two-thirds of its staple produce from the UK.
“The farmers and producers that supply us, some of whom have been with us for decades, are vital to the success of our business,” said Ryan McDonnell, CEO of Lidl GB. We view them as partners in our objective to offer homes high-quality, reasonably-priced produce, and for many, collaborating with Lidl GB and participating in our growth has opened doors for their own international and domestic expansion.
One of the most popular British exports for Lidl customers abroad is cheese, and Lidl GB suppliers sell British cheese worth more than £50 million to shops across Europe.
Wyke Farms, a provider of Westcountry cheddar cheese, has been supplying Lidl since 1994. The company presently has a long-term agreement with Lidl GB that runs through 2028 and is worth £35 million annually. Wyke now exports to 16 different Lidl markets as a result of its long-standing partnership with Lidl GB, with Poland being the country where Somerset Vintage Cheddar is most popular outside of Great Britain.
Lidl GB’s Chief Trading Officer, Martin Kottbauer, added: “Over the years, we have made it a top priority to give our suppliers the security and predictability they need to make investments and expand. Since continuing to invest in the British food and farming industry is still a top priority for our company, we have led the industry in the adoption of longer-term contracts.
Together, Lidl and Wyke introduced the first supermarket cheddar that is carbon neutral, assisting dairy producers in taking immediate steps to lower their on-farm emissions. The businesses are also collaborating with the goal of developing a closed-loop system by 2030, which will guarantee that carbon neutrality is fully attained within the supply chain itself. By converting local bio-waste from Lidl stores and suppliers into renewable energy as part of this closed-loop system, the program hopes to incorporate carbon captured by Wyke farms and pave the road for an entirely sustainable dairy farming model.
“Our long-term relationship with Lidl has given the Wyke firm the confidence to invest in a number of long-term projects across our business,” said Richard Clothier, managing director of Wyke Farms. These include new butter and cheese processing facilities, on-farm emission reductions, new cheese warehouses for maturing more aged cheeses, and renewable energy sources.
All of these initiatives help local farmers, the environment, and eventually Lidl customers.
The most recent initiatives and pledges made by Lidl GB to promote British food and farming businesses expand on previous ones. The discounter pledged to work sustainably with all growers as one of the first supermarkets to sign the NFU Fruit and Veg Pledge in 2016. Additionally, it pledged to fund and carry out 10 full supply chain food waste initiatives by 2025, working with suppliers to develop innovative ways to cut waste and add value to the supply chain.
About Lidl GB
Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has experienced continuous growth and today has over 28,000 employees, over 950 stores, and 13 distribution centers in England, Scotland, and Wales.
As part of the Schwarz retail group, Lidl is one of Europe’s leading organizations in the food retail industry. The supermarket, which has more than 360,000 employees globally, currently operates approximately 12,000 stores and more than 200 warehouses and distribution centers in 31 countries.
The supermarket takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices throughout Great Britain, from Kirkwall to the Isle of Wight. Social responsibility and sustainability are at the core of the company’s daily operations, with the company placing a strong emphasis on its responsibility for people, society, and the environment. Lidl GB is passionate about working with British producers and sources two-thirds of its products from British suppliers.
The Schwarz Group, which operates worldwide as a retail group, generated a turnover of €133.6 billion in the financial year 2021.
For more information about Lidl GB, visit https://corporate.lidl.co.uk/
