New industry research has identified Aldi as the biggest supporter of Scottish farmers and crop traders, stocking more than double the amount of locally sourced fresh food than the industry average.
The findings come from NFU Scotland’s 2025-26 Shelfwatch report, published on Friday 27 February, which showed that 65% of Aldi’s own brand fresh food sold in Scotland is domestically sourced.
The annual audit assessed more than 20,000 products from 78 stores including Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.
Across all retailers, Scottish produce accounts for just 26% on average, highlighting the huge gap between Aldi and its competitors.
The results come amid increased scrutiny of food security, transparent labeling and domestic supply chains, particularly as farmers face continued cost pressures and volatile markets.
Aldi sourced 100% of its potatoes, eggs and cream from Scotland, and recorded a strong performance with 82% of its chicken sourced from Scotland.
The retailer also achieved one of the highest levels of Scottish pork sourcing at 41%, and was the only supermarket found to stock fresh Scottish primary pork.
NFU Scotland said this would provide important support for the pig sector, which continues to face margin pressures and structural challenges.
Scottish lamb sourcing also showed significant progress, with Aldi increasing its share of Scotch lamb by 43 percentage points to 81%. This is a category where other retailers are struggling to maintain domestic supply.
Aldi Scotland buying director Alan Leslie said the results reflected continued investment in the local supply chain.
“Scotland’s food pantry is world-renowned and at Aldi we take great pride in championing Scottish sourcing,” he said, adding that the company’s Scottish purchasing team has been working with local producers since 2009.
He said the retailer remains committed to increasing the proportion of locally produced products and strengthening relationships with suppliers.
NFU Scotland Chairman Andrew Connon welcomed the findings, saying they demonstrated what could be achieved through active retail engagement with domestic producers.
“We continue to value Aldi’s involvement and commitment to Scottish produce and hope this will set a standard for other companies to follow,” he said.
He continued his leadership in Scotch lamb and Scottish pork, and highlighted the strong performance in vegetables, potatoes and dairy products.
He added: “This shows that when retailers proactively support Scottish farmers and crop traders, it makes a real difference,” noting that ShelfWatch provides “valuable data-driven insights into sourcing and labeling practices”.
The union said the results underlined the importance of clear procurement policies and retailer engagement in strengthening domestic production and supporting the wider rural economy.
The report could increase scrutiny of how retailers balance price, supply and long-term support for agriculture, as pressure mounts on supermarkets to show stronger support for British producers.
