Lidl renews commitment to selling British beef
27th June 2025
Following concerns that some UK supermarkets are stepping back from their commitment to sourcing British meat, Lidl has confirmed it will continue selling its own-brand British beef. The retailer said it has no plans to import or switch to suppliers from outside of Great Britain.
The discounter’s fresh beef range is all Red Tractor Assured, giving customers the confidence that their products are traceable, safe and farmed with care. Lidl has written to Red Tractor, the National Farmers’ Union, and its suppliers to reassure them of this commitment and pledge ongoing support for the British agricultural sector.
Richard Bourns, Lidl GB chief commercial officer, said: “British farming is recognised globally for its high standards of animal welfare, food safety and environmental stewardship. At Lidl, we know these values matter to our customers, which is why we proudly support and champion British agriculture.
“As we enter our fourth decade in Great Britain, our commitment to these principles has never been stronger. We will not compromise on standards even if others choose to do so. Our commitment goes beyond maintaining high standards – it’s about standing by British farmers when they need us most and doing what’s right for our customers.”
Consumers prefer British food
The NFU has recently reported that three major supermarkets have moved away from their pledge to source British beef. The union has become aware of beef from Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand hitting the shelves in Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
This shift in retailer sourcing commitments comes at a time when British farmers are already facing an unprecedented number of challenges. Coupled with concerns over recent trade deals, further undermine the high standards of production that British farmers adhere to.
This will also come as a blow to the public, who would like to buy more British food from retailers.
Nine in ten people (90%) want to see more food produced in the UK. Meanwhile, just around a third of people say they trust food produced in the US (33%) and India (31%). This marks a steep decline from the Index’s 2023 findings of 74% and 62%, respectively.
Many people believe these countries have lower animal welfare standards than the UK. Nearly three out of five Brits (57%) believe the US has lower standards than our own, potentially causing concern about products entering the UK market. This view marks an increase from 46% in 2023.
As more imported beef is being trialled in key UK retailers and a reported 6% increase in imported red meat on display in supermarkets this year, the Scottish red meat sector stands united in sharing their deep concerns for the long-term resilience of Scotland’s domestic supply chain.
QMS chair Kate Rowell said: “The creepage of imports onto our shop shelves is in stark contrast to our wants, needs and the previous commitments made to Scotland.
“Our analysis shows red meat imports from non-EU countries such as Uruguay, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil rose strongly (up more than 55%) in the first third of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024 from a low base, approaching 10% of total imports.”
Ms Rowell added that research conducted on QMS behalf by EssenceMediacom in 2024 shows that 83% of people in Scotland say they are opposed to purchasing red meat from elsewhere in the EU and the world, and 93% take product labels into consideration when buying food, with provenance and animal welfare ranking highly.
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