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A family-owned Yorkshire potato supplier is investing £1.65m in automation and future growth as its long-standing partnership with Aldi UK continues to expand.
Cockerill, which is based just outside York, has supplied the discount supermarket since Aldi first entered the UK market. The business now provides potatoes across bagged and loose lines, including more than 16 million loose baking potatoes each year.
The supplier said the volume of potatoes it provides to Aldi has more than doubled since 2023, giving the family-owned business greater confidence to invest in technology, people and its farming operations.
The £1.65m investment is focused on new technology and automation designed to improve productivity as the business scales its operations.
Alongside investment in its packing capabilities, Cockerill is continuing to develop regenerative farming practices, including the use of cover crops. The company is also pursuing initiatives aimed at reducing waste both in the field and throughout its packing operations.
Cockerill supplies traditional varieties such as Maris Piper, alongside a wider range of fresh potatoes sold in 1kg and 2.5kg packs and loose baking potatoes.
Joanne Forster, account manager at Cockerill, said: "As a family business, we're incredibly proud to supply quality British potatoes to millions of Aldi customers and we're excited to bring our produce to even more shoppers across the country as the partnership continues to grow.”
The investment highlights the role that long-term supermarket supply partnerships can play in giving food producers and agricultural businesses the confidence to invest in capacity and operational improvements.
For Cockerill, the growth in Aldi volumes is supporting a combination of automation and on-farm investment, while also creating opportunities to increase the availability of British-grown potatoes across the retailer's estate.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “It’s fantastic to work with family businesses like Cockerill, who have been growing quality British produce for generations. It's rewarding to see the business continue to invest in the local community as our partnership goes from strength to strength.”
As retailers continue to focus on strengthening domestic supply chains, Cockerill's investment demonstrates how sustained volume growth can support further investment in technology, productivity and farming practices within the UK's fresh produce sector.
