Lidl GB today announces a landmark £30 billion investment in the British food and farming industry, strengthening its commitment to backing British suppliers and supporting long-term sustainable growth across the sector.
The new investment reflects the value of sourcing contracts with British-based suppliers which will be made between 2025 and 2030. £30 billion marks a 100% uplift on the discounter’s original commitment to invest £15 billion over five years1, which it surpassed by an additional £6 billion in 2024.
With Lidl now in its fourth decade in Great Britain, today’s announcement underscores its continued focus on building long-term partnerships with farmers, growers and suppliers across England, Scotland and Wales. The significant investment will support a broad range of key British food categories from fruit and vegetables to meat and poultry, strengthening the UK food system and enhancing national food security.
The investment by Lidl is supported by industry-leading sustainability initiatives, including:
- Committing to 100% LEAF Marque certification across all British fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers – championing responsible farming practices that promote soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare. The LEAF logo will be rolled out on packaging of all British fresh produce from next year.
- Continued funding for water catchment projects like UK Food and Drink Pact Water (WRAP) Roadmap, supporting collective action to address water risks in key sourcing regions such as Medway, Southwest England, Norfolk and the rivers Wye and Usk. Addressing issues such as water availability and quality, addressing societal challenges and building climate resilience into food supply chains.
- Growth of its Sustainable Beef Group – investing £1.5 billion in British beef production, Lidl are working with farmers to reduce carbon intensity, improve herd performance and farm profitability, reinforcing its commitment to sourcing 100% everyday own-label fresh beef from British suppliers.
- Collaboration with partners such as the ruumi app, providing beef farmers with digital innovation to adopt regenerative land management techniques and track progress across grazing, herd performance, and carbon intensity – driving sustainability in the food and farming sector.
The discounter’s long-term sourcing model strengthens its commitment to British produce, providing suppliers with the stability and confidence needed to invest, innovate and scale sustainably. This approach enables Lidl to offer the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices whilst backing a resilient, ethical and sustainable British supply chain.
Richard Bourns, chief commercial officer at Lidl GB, said: “This investment is a clear, long-term commitment to British farmers and growers – a commitment that places British food and farming at the heart of our growth plans, ensuring we continue to offer our customers the quality British products they demand. By backing British, we aim to provide over 650 British suppliers the confidence and security to invest in their own businesses, laying the foundations for sustainable future growth.
“Our success is rooted in the brilliance of the suppliers we work with, and we’re extremely proud of the growth we’ve achieved together. As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain, we remain focused on providing our customers with exceptional quality at market-leading prices, with these long-term partnerships underpinning our promise.”
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle said: “Lidl’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in the quality and reliability of British farming and we’re proud to support partnerships that recognise the excellence of all that our farmers produce.
“By backing British produce we’re not just supporting our rural communities and agricultural workforce; we’re investing in sustainable food systems that will benefit consumers and the environment for generations to come – aligning with our vision for a resilient food strategy as part of our Plan for Change.”
The 5five-year investment will continue to support key categories, from fruit and vegetables to meat and poultry, and intends to strengthen long-term partnerships with over 650 of the discounter’s British suppliers. Reinforcing the continued focus Lidl has on delivering quality and affordability while supporting a resilient and sustainable supply chain.
