ALDI has thrown support behind calls for the Scottish morning roll to receive Unesco cultural heritage status, declaring it a “national treasure”.
The retailer is formally backing the campaign, after the Scottish Greens also backed the viral campaign to secure Unesco status for the beloved bap.
Aldi sells more than 35,000 of them every day, making it one of its most popular items.
The campaign follows the successful example of France, whose traditional baguette-making culture was awarded Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage status in 2022, recognising not just the bread itself but the generations-old skills, traditions and community life surrounding it.
The National previously broke the story that Gilchrist had launched a campaign to have “the act of ordering a morning roll” recognised by Unesco as part of its Living Heritage project.
The Unesco project allows anyone to nominate cultural traditions they believe should be protected, and Gilchrist previously confirmed to The National that he will be submitting “the act of ordering a morning roll” for the 2027 intake.
The supermarket works closely with a handful of local suppliers including family-run Murdoch Allan, which began supplying Aldi in 2023 and now supplies six lines across its Scottish stores, and Brownings – a fourth-generation baker established in 1945.
John Gall, chairman of Brownings, said: “As a family business now in its fourth generation, we’ve watched the morning roll stay at the heart of Scottish life since we started baking in 1945. It's more than a product to us, it’s part of the culture we grew up in and the one we're proud to keep going. That's exactly why this campaign matters, and why we’re right behind it.”
Paul Allan, who owns Murdoch Allan with his wife Katrina, said: “The skill and craftsmanship that goes into the morning roll has been developed over generations and passed from baker to baker. From selecting and blending the highest quality, locally sourced ingredients to preparing and shaping the dough and knowing the perfect baking process to achieve each roll's distinctive texture and character that Scots recognise as an integral start to their day."
Alan Leslie, buying director at Aldi Scotland, said: “The Scottish morning roll is so much more than a breakfast item – it’s part of everyday Scottish life and a tradition that has been enjoyed for generations.
“We’re proud to support calls for it to receive the recognition it deserves. And we’re equally proud that, through our partnerships with Scottish suppliers, we can play a small part in keeping these much-loved traditions alive.
“Unesco might still be deciding, but as far as we’re concerned, the morning roll is already a Scottish national treasure.”
