Lidl Takes Overall Berry Retailer of the Year 2026 Again

By Daniel Okafor

Lidl has won Overall Berry Retailer of the Year 2026 from British Berry Growers, retaining the title for the second consecutive year and collecting three awards in total at the trade association's annual retailer event.

The discounter also took Blackberry Retailer of the Year and Blueberry Retailer of the Year. The wins recognize its strong growth in sales of British berries over the season. Co-op was named Strawberry Retailer of the Year, while Tesco took Raspberry Retailer of the Year. Ocado received the Special Recognition Award for the second year running, this time for its outstanding year-on-year growth in British berry sales.

How does British Berry Growers pick the winners?

The mechanism is simple and purely quantitative. The annual awards recognize eligible bricks-and-mortar retailers achieving the largest year-on-year percentage growth in sales tonnage of British berries. The data comes from BBG's own members, the growers who supply the shelves. The overall award assesses growth across strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries combined.

That structure matters for marketers. A retailer cannot win on shelf space alone. Growth in tonnage sold, measured at the grower level, decides each category. A discounter and a premium online grocer can compete on the same yardstick because the metric is percentage growth, not absolute volume.

What was said at the conference?

Executive Chair Nick Marston announced the results at the British Berry Growers Retailer Conference on 12 November. He said: "Congratulations to Lidl on winning three awards, and to Co-op, Tesco and Ocado for their achievements. The awards and honourable mentions recognise strong performances in growing sales of British berries."

Marston also framed the awards as part of a wider supply-chain relationship. "Retail partners play an important role in supporting British growers and bringing their berries to consumers. These awards celebrate that contribution and encourage continued support for British fruit."

The full list of 2026 winners

• Overall Berry Retailer of the Year: Lidl
• Strawberry Retailer of the Year: Co-op
• Raspberry Retailer of the Year: Tesco
• Blackberry Retailer of the Year: Lidl
• Blueberry Retailer of the Year: Lidl
• Special Recognition Award: Ocado

British Berry Growers also issued honourable mentions for strong performances across the season:

• Strawberry: Lidl
• Raspberry: Lidl
• Blackberry: Co-op
• Blueberry: Morrisons
• Overall: Co-op

What does this change for suppliers and retail partners?

The pattern in the honorable mentions tells the real story. Lidl appears in both individual berry categories and Co-op appears in both the blackberry and overall lists, which signals broad-based growth rather than a single-line spike. For growers deciding where to prioritize British fruit supply, the awards identify which retail partners moved the most tonnage in the most categories during the 2026 season.

With Lidl defending its overall crown a second time and Ocado holding its special recognition, the 2027 contest will show whether established winners can keep the growth rates climbing from an already higher base.