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Supermarket giant Aldi plans to invest over £30 million in dairy farmers over the next three and a half years.

The funding, which will be made through an enhanced partnership with dairy cooperative Arla, is set to run until the middle of 2027 and will provide additional support to Arla’s farm owners, ensuring greater focus on sustainability and animal welfare practices.

Through the investment, Aldi will support Arla’s ‘FarmAhead Customer Partnership’, a new initiative aimed at boosting farmers’ ongoing efforts to drive reductions in on-farm emissions. Through this programme, Aldi will partner in farming projects and innovation that aim to accelerate more sustainable farming practices and decarbonise dairy.

Aldi has also increased its investment in the Aldi Dairy Farm Partnership (ADFP) programme to cover 100% of Arla’s Fresh Milk supply, which extended its support for British farms from 25 to over 150.

Liz Fox, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, our commitment to responsible sourcing is at the heart of everything we do. Our strengthened partnership with Arla allows us to better support farmers while driving positive change in the UK’s dairy sector. This investment reflects our long-standing relationship with Arla and our dedication to delivering high-quality dairy products to our customers.”

Tim Dale, Arla farmer and member of the ADFP since 2018, added: "We’re incredibly proud of our ongoing relationship with Aldi, which has spanned six years. This investment marks another milestone in our shared goal of supporting dairy farmers to produce quality milk that is made in the best possible way. We are excited to continue working closely on initiatives that create a better future for dairy farming."

This is the latest in a number of investments from Aldi. Last month, the retail giant revealed a new £800 million investment plan over the next year to accelerate its expansion across the UK, with a focus on lowering prices and opening new stores to bring “high-quality, affordable groceries to millions more British families”. It also expects the investment to create thousands more jobs and opportunities for suppliers in the nation.

In August, Aldi unveiled plans to invest £3 billion in its British beef suppliers over the next five years, hoping to provide security for beef supply chains across the UK.

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