Aldi’s Channel 4 show ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing’ is returning for a third series as the discounter hunts for innovative British food and drink brands.
From 2 April at 8pm, the six-part series will kick off with the ‘dinner’ episode where artisan suppliers will pitch to win a contract to have their product land on shelves in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide.
Each week, suppliers will compete in a range of categories, including dinners, baked goods and new additions such as party, world, and confectionery.
Products are presented to Aldi UK managing director of buying Julie Ashfield, who will deliberate on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before contestants are shortlisted down to just two.
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Finalists are given four weeks to address any feedback, followed by a taste test of the improved products by the judges, which include Ashfield, broadcaster and author Anita Rani, and BBC’s The One Show’s Chris Bavin, before a winner is determined.
This years contestants include the Malik Butchers with halal wagyu pastrami, Chef Vickz, who is the personal chef to rapper Stormzy, with a short rib mac and cheese, Leonati Catering with ‘rainbow burgers’, Mabel’s Foods with a vegan toad in the hole, Stonehouse Smokery with ‘pasta bombs’, and The Fabulous Catch Company with ‘crabulous crabcakes’.
Ashfield said: “I’m always looking for quality, but if I can also land something that will surprise our shoppers and keep them coming back for more, that’s the absolute dream.”
The television show, which launched its first series in 2022, has since seen brands including Harrison & Griffiths Rum Cake, Crave, The Greek Farmer, and Freddie’s Farm launch in Aldi stores across the country.
