CONSUMER appetite for low-fat produce has boosted demand for lean cuts of Scottish pork, prompting ALDI to introduce a new range of 100% Scottish SPCA approved trimmed products.

The two-year deal, in partnership with Tulip Ltd, will see eight healthy pork products – including Scottish lean pork medallions and lean diced pork – on the shelves of all 81 ALDI stores across Scotland.

Group buying director for ALDI Scotland, Graham Nicholson, said: “As a retailer, we are unwavering in our commitment to bring consumers the finest, 100% Scottish SPCA Approved Pork. We’re delighted to continue our excellent relationship with Scottish farmers and form our new partnership with Tulip.”

Customer director at Tulip Ltd, Julian Weeks, said “We’re delighted to form a partnership with a retailer so committed to helping Scottish farmers. At Tulip, we are dedicated to creating the highest quality products and factor in sustainability at every level of the company supply chain. It’s all ensuring the long-term future of the Scottish pig industry.”

ALDI has already won industry praise for its commitment to exclusively sourcing Scottish lamb, verified by the recent shelf watch carried out by NFU Scotland.

NFU Scotland's pig committee chairman, Jamie Wyllie added: "ALDI has made a strong commitment to supplying as many Scottish products as they can, and this recent move is a huge step forward for the Scottish pig industry.

At the RHS Fergus Ewing revealed the Scottish industry strategy paper which set out our vision for the future of the Scottish industry and how we can move towards becoming self sufficient in producing and processing Scottish Pork," he explained.

"This partnership between ALDI and Tulip Ltd is one of the end stages in this vision as they are selling directly to the consumer," he continued. "Everyone knows how to cook chicken but not everyone realises how easy preparing tasty pork dishes can be. Consumers want to buy products which are easy to cook and some of the range ALDI will be offering are simple to cook - throw in the pan style dishes of a low-fat content , geared towards consumer demand.

Jamie concluded: "Scottish pork has been sold in ALDI before but this is first time they will exclusively sell fresh Scottish pork from all of their stores, which I believe makes it the first in Scotland."