Aldi has achieved a milestone of hitting £1.6bn in annual sales for its premium label, Specially Selected, which marks an 11 per cent increase year-on-year.

The discounter reported that almost 16m households purchased over 500m products from the line within the past 12 months.

This was driven by a shift in consumer habits as shoppers are increasingly choosing to dine-in over going out to restaurants.

According to the business, the growth was driven by a switch from branded products to the retailer’s premium own-label range, with sales of Specially Selected Wagyu going up by 40 per cent year-on-year.

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “Reaching £1.6bn in Specially Selected sales shows how our shoppers are redefining what value means – they want exceptional quality without compromise.

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“We’re seeing this play out week after week, whether through our Wagyu range, which continues to fly off our shelves, or our Specially Selected cheeses, desserts and wines, which remain hugely popular with customers.

The discounter’s range features over 1,000 products, including premium fresh meat, artisan bakery items and sweet treats.

Additionally, the line offers Specially Selected bottles such as Muscadelle (£9.99, 75cl) and Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc (£6.49, 75cl) as part of the newly launched spring/summer collection.

Aldi previously experienced a boost in sales during the Valentine’s Day holiday as more shoppers choose to cook at home compared to going out.