Aldi has announced that British-grown plums will be available at all of its 1,086 UK stores from Wednesday, July 22. The supermarket expects to sell up to 700,000 units of the fruit this season, which will be in stores until early September.
Exceptional growing conditions
According to Aldi's award-winning British plum grower, WB Chambers Farms, high sunshine levels last autumn, record spring sunshine, a cool start to May and a warm June have combined to produce exceptionally sweet, flavoursome fruit with outstanding quality.
Arriving at the height of summer, the plums are ideal for everything from picnics and lunchboxes to baking or simply enjoying as a seasonal snack, Aldi said.
Comments from executives
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: "This is shaping up to be one of the best British plum seasons we've seen for a number of years. Working closely with British growers means we can bring exceptional seasonal produce into stores as soon as it's ready, so shoppers can enjoy British plums at their very best while supporting UK farming."
George Beedell, Head of Business Development at WB Chambers Farms, Aldi’s British plum supplier, said: “This has been an exceptional season for British plums. The combination of sunshine, cooler growing conditions and a warm finish has created fruit with outstanding sweetness, quality and appearance." He added: “It’s one of those years where everything has come together, and we think shoppers will really notice the difference when they taste this year’s plums.”
Long-term commitment
The announcement follows Aldi’s recent commitment to increase long-term agreements with UK produce and horticulture suppliers. The supermarket aims to secure at least 50% of its domestic produce through long-term partnerships by the end of 2027.
