Backing British Farming
At Lidl, we’re so committed to backing the future of British farming, that 100% of our fresh everyday milk, butter, eggs, cream, chicken and beef comes from our British suppliers – we call this commitment our Grassroots Partnership. It’s part of our £17 billion investment to show support for the next generation of British beef and dairy farmers. And with a Lidl help from our farming friends, we’ll continue to create more sustainable fresh, quality produce now and long into the future. But we don’t just stop at beef and dairy…We’ve partnered for longer with our passionate fruit and veg growers too. This ensures they can continue to grow in strength just like their fruit and veg. These longer contracts also help our farmers keep up their sustainable land practices now, tomorrow and for years to come.
And because the future is just as important as the here and now, our Grassroots Partnership has also been supporting the upskilling of 25 next generation British beef and dairy farmers over a 3-year period. As part of this partnership, Lidl is also providing Carbon assessments and consultant-led support to reduce their environmental impact.
* We’re backing the future of farming with £17 billion as part of our five-year investment plan.
Just some Lidl ways that we can help the future of British farming…
Backing British Farming
Over 60% of our products are sourced from British suppliers.
Our future investment
Supporting the next generation of British beef and dairy farmers as part of our nationwide investment.
Red Tractor assured
100% of our British produce is assured by the Red Tractor, meaning its farmed with care.
Fridge favourites
100% of our fresh everyday milk, butter, eggs, cream, chicken and beef is from British suppliers.
Whether it’s your favourite vegetables such as mushrooms, potatoes and onions, or fresh salads and fruit like apples, pears and berries, we are committed to working with British suppliers whenever possible, meaning you can back British when you shop with us at Lidl. We support British farmers, and have been developing long-term relationships with them to ensure their businesses are secure for the future. So, you can enjoy great quality fruit and vegetables at the best price, whilst helping us support British farmers.
In the last two years, we’ve done even more to extend buying contracts with our farmers and have strengthened our relationships with our suppliers of main crop potatoes, onions, whole head salads and mushrooms.
We’ve also extended a three-year contract with Asplins British Berries for a further two years, which makes up half of our total berry supply. Commitments like these give stability to small and large family businesses up and down the UK, keeping thousands of people in jobs, as well as helping investments in sustainable land practices including increased biodiversity and sustainable water management.
Bright whites and yellow yolks aren’t the only colours that come to mind when you think of our eggs, especially when you visit our farmer, Gareth, at his home in Powys, Wales. There’s the rich russet of the Lohmann Brown hens and the lush green grass where they roam.
“All our birds are free-range,” says Gareth. “They can go in and out as they please.”
You’ll find the British Lion stamp on all our egg boxes and the RSPCA Assured stamps on all our free range egg boxes (which, by the way, are 100% recyclable). These set the standards for keeping hens, with the highest possible welfare the top priority.
A lot goes in to creating the right environment for hens to lay their best eggs. Gareth provides his hens dust baths and grit to peck at to help encourage natural behaviour, and they’ve got plenty of toys to keep them busy too. “As well as being the right thing to do, it’s the best thing to do too,” says Gareth. “Stressed hens lay less. Every good farmer should want happy hens.”
Freshness is also key. With his hens laying daily for 12-day cycles, Gareth and his parents collect the eggs every day and stamp them with a unique code which can be traced back to their farm. After being sent for packing, Gareth’s eggs can be in-store within days of being laid: “I think it’s nice to know that these eggs have come straight from the shed to your house!”
Henry wasn’t long out of agricultural college when he took over the family business, and takes pride in being one of the new breed of farmers: “Everyone has an idea in their head of what a farmer should look like, but you don’t see me in a flat cap and wellies.” Henry combines modern technology with good old- fashioned farming instincts to ensure his birds are raised to the highest possible welfare standards. “If my birds aren’t happy, you can guarantee I’m not happy either!’
