Lidl announced today its Great Britain division would be investing an additional £4bln in the food businesses here.
The supermarket’s financing is part of a 5-year pledge to devote £15bln to the industry between 2020 and 2025- although this forecast has now been raised to £17bln.
“The farmers and producers that supply us, some of which have been with us for decades, are paramount to the success of our business,” Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB chief executive, said.
“We see them as partners in our mission to provide households with high-quality affordable produce.”
Since March 2020 Lidl GB invested £10bln in the British food industry.
Wyke Farms, a Westcountry cheddar cheese supplier, has a contract with the supermarket until 2028- valued at £35mln a year, Lidl said in its press release.
Lidl’s contract allows the supplier to make products carbon-neutral and target a closed-loop sustainability system for the whole supply chain.
However, it is unknown whether Lidl’s investment is just to secure the rights to sell the products or an investment in the actual company.
Both Lidl and Wyke Farms did not comment at the time of writing.