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A ‘BERRY’ GOOD DEAL: FIFE FARM ENJOYS FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH ALDI

Customers can continue to enjoy fruitful trips to Aldi stores in Scotland thanks to the supermarket’s ongoing partnership with Fife-based Blacketyside Fruits. 

Having started out as livestock farmers in Northern Ireland, Robert and Eleanor Todd decided to re-locate to Blacketyside Farm in Leven, Fife, after falling for the farm’s quality land and great coastal location. The family moved with the intention to grow cereals but decided to make the most of the farm’s ten acres to grow soft fruit instead.  

With their sons Andrew and Stewart joining the business after finishing university, the family-run Blacketyside Fruits has supplied Aldi with the finest quality berries since 2013 as part of the supermarket’s ongoing commitment to championing Scottish produce. The business has continued to enjoy success over the years thanks to this strong partnership and supply Aldi stores in Scotland with a range of quality soft fruit, including strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. Blacketyside Fruits supplied Aldi with 300 tonnes of their soft fruits last year.  

The continued support from Aldi has allowed the family to invest heavily in its soft fruit business, and they now grow all their fruit in special polytunnels, which has helped to extend the growing season. It has also allowed the business to expand the range of berries grown, with Blacketyside Farm supplying Aldi stores in Scotland with delicious, home-grown blackberries for the first time this summer. 

Eleanor Todd, Co-Founder and Partner at R Todd & Co, said: “Being an Aldi supplier is very important to us. Knowing that we have a strong and loyal market for a significant volume of our soft fruit has really given us the confidence to invest in our business. We now have heated polytunnels which has helped us to significantly extend the berry season, meaning we can pick from April right through to October each year. We have also just completed a new packing facility on the farm, and we simply wouldn’t have been able to do this if it wasn’t for our work with Aldi.  

“We are a very proud local business and it’s fantastic to see Aldi being so committed to stocking the best Scottish produce that Scotland has to offer. Scotland’s cooler summer temperatures and long daylight hours allow our soft fruit to ripen slowly, giving our berries a fantastic flavour.” 

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “You cannot beat fresh Scottish berries, and we are very lucky that we have Robert and Eleanor’s fantastic team on board to provide our customers with some of the very best. I am pleased that our Aldi stores will be stocking their blackberries this season. Blacketyside Fruits epitomises the kind of companies that Aldi want to work with – those that provide honest, quality Scottish produce.” 

Blacketyside Fruits blackberries are sold in 150g punnets for £1.49 and make the perfect addition to a tasty desert. Why not use them to make Aldi’s French Toast Traybake? 

The full range of Blacketyside Fruits’ berries are sold at all 96 Scottish Aldi stores. You can find your nearest Aldi store here.