Aldi is set to welcome more than a thousand attendees to its UK supplier conference next week, where the supermarket will update on its current trading performance and future growth plans.
It is the first face-to-face event Aldi has held for suppliers since 2018, a period in which it has overtaken Morrisons to become the UK’s fourth largest supermarket and now accounts for more than 10% of UK grocery sales*.
Senior executives due to address the conference include Giles Hurley, chief executive officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, who will provide a strategic update, and Julie Ashfield, managing director of national buying, who will set out how suppliers can build successful growth partnerships with Aldi.
Other speakers will include group managing directors Niall O’Connor and Dan Ronald, managing director of national buying Jonathan Neale, and managing director of global sourcing for the Aldi South Group Belinda May Ball. The senior team will also answer questions from delegates.
Meanwhile, Team GB Olympic gold medal-winning heptathlete and sports presenter Dame Denise Lewis will share reflections on her career and thoughts on what sustainable growth means to her.
In addition to the presentations, more than 200 Aldi colleagues will also attend, representing the buying team and support functions like sustainability and supply chain management. The afternoon will provide the opportunity for suppliers to meet and network with key contacts, as well as a series of breakout sessions on specific categories including Beers, Wines and Spirits, Produce and Horticulture, and Non-food Specialbuys, among others.
There is also a range of 15-minute deep-dive sessions focused on the product lifecycle, where suppliers can hear from Aldi’s experts on areas like sustainable packaging, quality assurance and demand planning.
Speaking ahead of the event, Ashfield said: “We are really excited to be holding this face-to-face event with suppliers for the first time since before the pandemic. It has been a busy few years for Aldi, and we couldn’t have achieved the growth and success that we have without the partnership of our suppliers.
“Next week is a great opportunity to thank them in person for their continued support, and to share our vision for how we can build even closer relationships as we continue our growth journey and work together to make great quality, sustainable products affordable for all.”
Guy Ousey, head of audience engagement at IGD, said: “This is a great event for any suppliers who trade with, or are looking to trade with, Aldi in the UK. It is a great way to make connections and find out how you can help them deliver their growth ambitions and yours.”
The event will take place on Tuesday, 4th July at the ICC Birmingham, and will be hosted by IGD. Full details of the event, programme and tickets are available at igd.com/Events/Aldi-Supplier-Conference.
* Kantar: Till Roll data 12we 11th June 2023.
