Discount retailer Aldi recorded exceptional sales of its Scottish food and drink products in 2022.
Scottish-made goods accounted for 25% of overall sales in the past year, with several products witnessing significant growth, including baked treats and confectionary.
Sales of Aldi Scotland’s six pack of Scottish Crumpets (£0.72) rose by 34%, while its six pack of Scottish pancakes (£0.55) increased by 22%. Scottish Scones were also up 18%, and its range of Scottish Butteries 19%. Each of these baked items were created by Ayrshire-based baker Brownings, a long-term supplier of Aldi Scotland. Founded in 1945, Brownings continues to champion traditional craft skills and has won numerous accolades for its Aldi-supplied bakery products.
Aldi has also seen a record year for its Lockerbie Cheddar, which had a 60% boost in sales in 2022, with its Triangle Oatcakes also increasing by 37%. Other snack and confectionary items which performed well include Finlays Traditional Crisps, up 30%, and its Peppermint Creams and Chocolate Caramel sweets up 34% compared to 2021.
Since opening its first Scottish store in 1994, Aldi, which was named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for the second consecutive year by consumer champion Which?, has continued to demonstrate strong and clear commitment to its local producers. Currently, it works with over 90 individual local suppliers to curate a diverse range of food and drink from Scotland.
The supermarket’s commitment to local produce was recognised at the 2022 Scottish Sourcing Business of the Year by Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards. The discount retailer also scooped 63 individual awards for its Scottish product offering in 2022.
Graham Nicolson, group buying director, Aldi Scotland, said: “The popularity of our Scottish products in 2022 was exceptional – testament to the quality of the produce created by our suppliers and the incredible value Aldi Scotland can offer.
“Our dedicated Scottish buying team was established in 2009 to bring more locally produced goods to market. Over a decade later and we remain as committed to supporting our regional farmers, grocers, drinks specialists, bakers and more, supporting them to reach new customers, while continuing with our promise to customers to offer unbeatable prices on quality food and drink.
“We know that in recent years customers have become more conscious of choosing local, and the growth in our Scottish lines exemplifies this.
“Aldi was recently named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for the second year in a row by Which?, and as more people are drawn to Aldi our unbeatable prices have become increasingly popular. This in turn has given a great platform to our Scottish suppliers and is something that we are especially proud of.”
