Aldi has been named Scotland’s leading supermarket for Scottish sourcing, with 41% of its shelf stock now Scottish in origin, according to NFU Scotland’s latest ShelfWatch 2025 Mid-Year Report.
The retailer has increased its Scottish-sourced products by 7% since January and 6% year-on-year, reflecting continued investment in local supply chains. In total, Aldi’s combined Scottish and British sourcing stands at 88% – matching the Co-op – and placing both supermarkets ahead of their competitors.
While Aldi remains the top performer overall, NFU Scotland notes that other retailers have also shown strong improvement. Co-op has improved its sourcing more since January, while Asda’s year-on-year progress matches Aldi’s.
NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon said:
“Aldi’s progress is encouraging and shows what’s possible when retailers genuinely commit to local sourcing. But it’s equally positive to see other supermarkets closing the gap, particularly Co-op and Asda, who have also made real progress this year. Across the sector, however, less than 1 in 5 products on shelves are Scottish-sourced – and that must change.”
The ShelfWatch audit tracks the origin, labelling and visibility of own-label goods across eight major UK supermarkets. While there were positive signs in pork and milk, the report paints a concerning picture in other key areas:
- Imported lamb rose by 8% year-on-year, with major retailers like Tesco and Morrisons now stocking product from New Zealand and Australia. Asda stocked no Scotch lamb, with 82% imported lamb on its shelves.
- British pork sourcing is up 17%, replacing some imports – a positive trend showing that progress is possible when retailers engage.
- Imported vegetables have surged across several retailers. While this may reflect the impact of this year’s dry weather, it highlights the urgent need for investment in the supply chain to build long-term resilience.
Andrew Connon added:
“Consumers want to buy Scottish. Farmers want to supply Scottish. But supermarkets are still too reliant on imports – whether that’s lamb from the Southern Hemisphere or veg flown in from overseas. ShelfWatch shows encouraging steps forward from several supermarkets, but also that there’s still a long way to go.”
Aldi, which established its Scottish Buying Department in 2009, works with over 90 Scottish suppliers and offers more than 450 locally produced items. The retailer said the ShelfWatch data plays an important role in shaping its approach.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director at Aldi Scotland, said:
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and remain committed to supporting Scottish farmers and producers. ShelfWatch provides valuable insight that helps us strengthen local supply chains, expand Scottish ranges, and ensure high-quality produce reaches our customers.”
The Union will return to these findings in its end-of-year report and will engage directly with all major retailers to review progress against its five key asks - including clearer labelling, fairer pricing, stronger commitments to Scottish sourcing, and improved visibility and branding protocols.
Notes to editors:
- A photograph of Andrew Connon and Graham Nicolson is attached
- ShelfWatch is NFU Scotland’s flagship initiative to monitor the sourcing, visibility and labelling of Scottish produce across eight major UK retailers.
- NFU Scotland’s 2025 ShelfWatch mid-year audit included over 70 stores across all regions of Scotland.
- The audit tracks own-label sourcing in categories including meat, dairy and fresh produce
- A copy of the mid-year report is available here.
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Contact Carly Ross on 07860 642 826