Lidl GB: Invests £500m into UK-Grown Berry Sourcing

In an announcement made by Lidl GB, the company has committed to a sourcing investment of £500m.

The money has been pledged to the British berry industry, increasing its volume of UK-grown berries. 

Rising demand for healthy, home-grown produce

At a time of rising costs and unpredictable weather, the investment reflects the value Lidl GB places in sourcing contracts with British-based berry suppliers in the next five years. Signing new five-year agreements gives its suppliers greater certainty to invest and expand. 

Being the UK’s fifth largest supermarket, Lidl GB’s announcement marks its continued focus on building long-term partnerships with British suppliers in order to offer customers quality products that are locally sourced. 

According to Lidl GB, there is a growing demand for fresh, healthy foods among shoppers. This is evident in Lidl GB’s largest year-on-year increase in berry sales and its recognition as the British Berry Retailer of the Year.

Blueberries in particular are becoming one of Britain’s fastest-growing fruit categories, with Lidl GB seeing a surge of 200% in the last three years. Blackberries are also seeing strong growth (93%) and strawberries are seeing a 50% growth in the same time period. 

"We are backing British farming with a £500m vote of confidence in our British berry growers. By extending our long-term agreements, we’re providing the security suppliers need to build a resilient future,” says Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl GB.

“It is our clear ambition to be the first-choice partner for British growers. By building a framework providing long-term security, we enable our growers to confidently invest, innovate and scale alongside us. And by investing in these partnerships, we are making fresh, healthy produce more accessible to our customers - offering the best British berries at unbeatable prices.”

Building on its £30bn sourcing commitment to British food and farming

Towards the end of 2025, Lidl GB announced its strategy to invest £30bn in British food and farming, committing to backing British suppliers and supporting long-term sustainable growth across the sector. 

Supporting industry-leading sustainability initiatives: 

• Committing to 100% LEAF Marque certification across all British fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers
• Continued funding for water catchment projects like the UK Food and Drink Pact Water (WRAP) Roadmap, supporting collective action to address water risks in key sourcing regions, as well as addressing issues such as water availability and quality
• Investing in British beef production, working with farmers to reduce carbon intensity, improve herd performance and farm profitability
• 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

“Over the last three years, we have been impressed by the increase in Lidl’s British berry volumes, from around 11,500 tonnes in 2023 to more than 15,700 tonnes in 2025 – an increase of more than 36% in just two seasons. Across strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, Lidl now accounts for around 12.6% of all British berry tonnage sold through British Berry Growers members,” says British Berry Growers Chair, Nick Marston.

“This kind of retailer investment and commitment to British berries is exactly what our growers need and, as we head into another British berry season, that continued support for homegrown produce is more important than ever.”