‘Grow With Aldi’ will see the UK’s manufacturers and growers compete for space on the supermarket’s shelves, following the success of its spirits competition last year. An expert panel of judges including Aldi’s buying team will decide on the winning British businesses, whose products will be launched as Specialbuys in stores across the country. 

Aldi continues its commitment to British suppliers with the announcement of a nationwide competition that will see the supermarket uncover and ultimately stock exciting new products from the UK’s best small and medium food and drink businesses  – propelling them into the big time.

For its new ‘Grow With Aldi’ programme, the supermarket is calling for applicants to compete for a prized spot on Aldi’s shelves across the country. From bakers and chocolatiers, to cheese-makers, alcohol producers and everything in-between, shortlisted suppliers will visit the supermarket’s headquarters to showcase their products to an expert judging panel. 

After a process of deliberation, the judges will decide on the winning products, which will be launched as Specialbuys in Aldi’s 950 stores nationwide.

Penrhos Gin: 2021 Grow With Aldi spirits competition winner 

The launch follows the success of the 2021 Grow With Aldi spirits competition, which saw Penrhos Gin, a Herefordshire-based fruit farmer turned craft gin distillery, have its product stocked in Aldi stores across the country. The 18,000-bottle order was the largest of its kind for the distillery. 

“The biggest challenge for small craft distillers like us is breaking out of the local 40-mile radius,” commented Charles Turner – farmer, distiller, and co-founder of Penrhos Gin. “To go from that to winning Grow with Aldi and being stocked in 950 stores nationwide was a major breakthrough for our business.”

Aldi’s on-going commitment to locally sourced products

 “From entrepreneurial farmers with flair in the kitchen to tabletop businesses that are going from strength to strength, we can’t wait to see the best of British food and drink producers,” enthused Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK and a member of the judging panel. 

“More than three quarters of our sales come from British suppliers, and we are constantly exploring ways in which we can further support small local businesses. That’s why we are delighted to be extending Grow With Aldi. To be able to offer a platform to showcase new food and drink products to the nation is incredibly exciting,” she continued. “We look forward to working with new suppliers and continuing in our mission to offer shoppers high quality, fresh products at the best possible prices.” 

The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s on-going commitment to locally sourced products. The supermarket has invested an extra £1.6 billion with British suppliers since the start of the pandemic, including £125 million spent with meat, poultry and dairy farmers in the UK.

Aldi has also reaffirmed its pledge to prioritise homegrown suppliers as it works towards spending an additional £3.5 billion a year with British businesses by the end of 2025.

Budding applicants can enter by downloading the T&Cs and entry form at https://www.aldi.co.uk/grow-with-aldi – and then sending the application via email to growwithaldi@clarioncomms.co.uk