Supermarkets Bite Into British Apple Boom With Record-Breaking Buys

Latest figures from British Apples & Pears Ltd reveal strong retailer backing for British topfruit, with Asda, Aldi and Tesco leading the charge.

Several major UK supermarkets have ramped up their support for British apple growers this season, new data from British Apples & Pears Ltd (BAPL) reveals.

The trade body has published its latest retailer performance update, covering the first six months of the 2024/25 British apple and pear season (September 2024 to February 2025). The figures show a marked uplift in British apple volumes purchased by key retailers, with Asda delivering the most eye-catching increase.

According to BAPL, Asda has almost doubled its British apple volumes year on year, rising from 4,086 tonnes in the first half of last season to 8,079 tonnes this season.

Lidl, Sainsbury’s and M&S have also grown their British apple sourcing significantly over the past two years. Lidl’s volume has increased by 2,225 tonnes, Sainsbury’s by 2,189 tonnes, and M&S by 1,090 tonnes.

However, not every supermarket has followed this upward trend. BAPL’s analysis shows that Morrisons, Co-op and Iceland all bought fewer British apples in the first half of this season compared to two years ago. Morrisons recorded the biggest decline, cutting its British apple purchases by 6,057 tonnes to 3,457 tonnes.

“We are so delighted with Asda’s amazing progress this year – it’s really fantastic,” commented BAPL executive chair Ali Capper. “The sustained growth from Sainsbury’s, Lidl and M&S is also very welcome. Our growers recognise that these retailers are really going above and beyond to support British.

“However, we need to be mindful of the supermarkets struggling at the bottom of our league tables. Our main message to those retailers is: What can we do to help you get more British apples onto your shelves and into shoppers’ baskets?”

A Two-Horse Race For The Crown

The latest data also shows a close contest at the top of BAPL’s British apple league table. Aldi currently holds a narrow lead, having purchased 16,918 tonnes of British apples between September and February, just ahead of Tesco with 16,586 tonnes.

“It’s unbelievably close at the top,” Capper said. “The competition is definitely hotting up. What’s amazing is that between them Tesco and Aldi have bought around 40 per cent of all British apples sold to UK retailers between September 2024 and February 2025.”

Sainsbury’s remains the top buyer of British pears, taking 33 per cent of total volumes – equivalent to 3,221 tonnes. Lidl follows with 2,289 tonnes purchased over the same period.

When combined, Aldi leads on total British topfruit volumes, buying 18,059 tonnes of apples and pears, just ahead of Tesco on 17,980 tonnes – a slim margin of only 79 tonnes.

Market Share Champions

BAPL’s analysis also compares supermarket purchases of British apples and pears against their grocery market share. Aldi, which holds 10.3 per cent of the UK grocery market, accounted for 19.1 per cent of British topfruit sales.

“Aldi’s topfruit market share is almost double their grocery share, which is fabulous,” Capper noted. “But Lidl have done even better. Lidl’s grocery market share is 7.3 per cent, but they’ve sold 16.5 per cent of all British apples and pears.

“That’s more than double their grocery share. If Tesco were doing as well as that, they would be selling over 50 per cent of all British apples and pears.”