Aldi Sud’s UK supermarkets have reportedly dropped Yorkshire smoked salmon supplier Bleiker’s Smokehouse.
Undercurrent News reported that sources have confirmed the supplier was abruptly dropped by the supermarket chain but did not state an explanation for the termination of the relationship.
The smokehouse, based in Northallerton, Yorkshire secured a contract to supply salmon to Aldi back in 2016, announcing at the time that it needed more employees to cope with the increase demand for its products.
Alongside Aldi, Bleiker’s Smokehouse supplied goods to other UK supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, as well as multiple local stores. The company’s salmon was still listed as available online via Sainsbury’s Tesco and Waitrose, as of 11th April.
In its latest filing with Companies House, Bleiker’s Smokehouse reported sales revenue of £14.1 million (€16.9 million) for the 12 months ended 30 April 2021, versus £20.5 million (€24.5 million) for the year ended 30 April 2020. The company’s gross profit margin increased from 17.3 percent to 19.1 percent in that period. Bleiker’s Smokehouse reported an increased operating profit of £373,000 (€446,480), compared to £370,000 (€442,890) in the previous period.
When SalmonBusiness asked Bleiker’s Smokehouse for comment by email, the company failed to respond. In a phone call with a Bleiker’s Smokehouse employee, SalmonBusiness was told that they were unable to comment on the situation. On the ‘where to buy’ section of Bleiker’s Smokehouse’s website, Aldi wasn’t listed among the key stockists of the company’s range.
Aldi declined to comment when contacted by SalmonBusiness via email and phone call.
