Lidl GB: £500m for Sustainable British Berry Growth

Lidl GB has pledged £500m (US$625m) to the British berry industry over the next five years. The commitment centres on increasing the volume of UK-grown berries through new five-year sourcing agreements with British suppliers.

The retailer's announcement comes at a time when rising costs and weather instability create uncertainty for agricultural producers. According to Lidl GB, the extended contracts provide suppliers with greater security to invest in expansion and infrastructure.

Long-term partnerships with producers

Lidl GB operates as the UK's fifth largest supermarket. The company's strategy focuses on building extended partnerships with British suppliers to offer customers locally sourced products.

According to Lidl GB, consumer demand for fresh and healthy foods continues to grow. The retailer has recorded its largest year-on-year increase in berry sales and received recognition as the British Berry Retailer of the Year.

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Blueberries have become one of Britain's fastest-growing fruit categories. According to Lidl GB, sales have surged by 200% over the past three years. Blackberries have seen growth of 93% during the same period. Strawberries have grown by 50% in three years.

Backing British food and farming

"We are backing British farming with a £500m vote of confidence in our British berry growers. By extending our long-term agreements, we are 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."

The £500m commitment forms part of Lidl GB's wider £30bn (US$40bn) investment in British food and farming announced towards the end of 2025. The strategy commits to backing British suppliers and supporting growth across the sector.

Sustainability initiatives across supply chains

Lidl GB has committed to 100% LEAF Marque certification across all British fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers. LEAF Marque certification covers environmental standards for farming practices.The company continues funding for water catchment projects through the UK Food and Drink Pact Water Roadmap. The programme supports collective action to address water risks in key sourcing regions and tackles issues including water availability and quality.

Lidl GB has also committed to investing in British beef production.

The initiative works with farmers to reduce carbon intensity and improve herd performance and farm profitability.

The retailer collaborates with partners including the ruumi app, a digital tool that provides beef farmers with 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."