A family-owned Yorkshire potato supplier is investing £1.65 million in automation and future growth, with the security of its long-term Aldi partnership giving the business the confidence to continue expanding.
Based just outside York, Cockerill has supplied Aldi since the supermarket first arrived in the UK and today provides shoppers with potatoes across bags and loose lines, including over 16 million loose baking potatoes annually.
Alongside traditional favourites such as Maris Piper, Cockerill supplies a range of fresh potato varieties in 1kg and 2.5kg packs, as well as loose baking potatoes.
As its partnership with Aldi continues to grow, the volume of potatoes Cockerill supplies to Aldi has more than doubled since 2023. This sustained growth has given the business the confidence to invest in its people, technology and farming operations to help supply quality British potatoes to even more customers.
The long-standing partnership with Aldi has enabled Cockerill to invest £1.65 million in new technology, helping to improve productivity. It has also supported investment in regenerative farming practices, including the use of cover crops, alongside ongoing initiatives to reduce waste both in the field and across its packing operations.
Joanne Forster, account manager at Cockerill, said: “We’ve been supplying Aldi since it first launched in the UK, and it’s been fantastic to grow alongside the business.
“As a family business, we’re incredibly proud to supply quality British potatoes to millions of Aldi customers and we’re excited to bring our produce to even more shoppers across the country as the partnership continues to grow.”
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “It’s fantastic to work with family businesses like Cockerill, who have been growing quality British produce for generations.
“It’s rewarding to see the business continue to invest in the local community as our partnership goes from strength to strength.”
