Lidl is investing £500m to bolster the British pork industry and ensure the continued production of quality product at the “best possible prices” for customers.
The investment follows recent sector-wide challenges, including rising costs, a Chinese import ban on EU pork, and butcher shortages which has led to a significant backlog of healthy pigs and financial worries for producers.
As the second-largest retailer to have a 100% everyday fresh British pork pledge, the discounter is looking to double down on its commitment with the introduction of its new ‘Lidl Pork Standard’.
This will see the grocer move its pork producers to an open-book producer costing model that includes the on-farm cost of production, guaranteed minimum producer volumes, and includes a fixed margin for farmers.
The changes were developed in collaboration with pork producers in the newly created ‘Lidl Pork Producer Group’, which will fund research and development projects aimed at mimicking the natural behaviours of pigs, such as rooting, sniffing and chewing, and in turn improving their overall wellbeing.
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In a new trial, 3D cameras have been been introduced to record the nature and frequency of the animals’ enrichment interactions, with the data being used to enhance welfare.
As part of the three-pronged approach and through collaborative efforts, Lidl is also investing in assessing the carbon footprint of all the farms in its pork producer group and is putting plans in place to reduce these emissions.
Alongside this, it will be investing over £250,000 in at-risk British catchments to support river health and water quality, while working to achieve deforestation-free soy sourcing by the end of 2025.
Lidl GB chief commercial officer Richard Bourns said: “This latest investment underlines our commitment to British producers, animal welfare and the environment. Acknowledging the challenges faced by the industry and its farmers in recent years, we recognised the need for intervention and the development of a bespoke solution addressing these challenges.
“That’s why we’ve been working closely with our suppliers and farmers, including major partners such as Cranswick and Pilgrim’s, to ensure we understand the intricacies of this supply chain and are well positioned to deliver impactful change.
“With our pork market share significantly greater than our broader market share, it highlights the substantial influence we have in this area and we’re embracing our responsibility to drive positive change.”
He added: “Our new pork standard is all about supporting our rural communities and ensuring the resilience of the sector while providing customers with high-quality British pork at affordable prices.”
