Aldi pledges £3.5bn towards UK suppliers
The group has also confirmed that the immediate payment terms for small suppliers it introduced at the start of the pandemic will be extended until the end of 2021
Aldi has outlined plans to increase its spending on UK-made food and drink by £3.5bn by 2025, as part of its growth plans over the next five years.
The group is also investing £500m in new and upgraded stores, distribution centres and its supply chain this year, which will reportedly create over 4,000 jobs, as well as “new opportunities” for British food and drink producers.
According to Aldi, its latest pledge will “help hundreds of small British businesses continue to grow with the supermarket and invest for the future”.
The group has also confirmed that the immediate payment terms for small suppliers it introduced at the start of the pandemic will be extended until the end of 2021.
In light of this, it will continue to process payments for suppliers with an annual turnover of less than £1m as soon as they are submitted.
The move will reportedly benefit more than 1,000 small British businesses in the group’s supply chain.
Giles Hurley, CEO at Aldi UK, said: “We are expecting significant sales growth in 2021 as we open new stores and bring Aldi to more locations across the UK.
“With the vast majority of our grocery products now coming from British suppliers, our growth will lead to additional jobs and investment in our UK supply chain.”
