Aldi will consider selling camel milk in the next episode of “Aldi’s Next Big Thing”, which will air this Thursday, November 3. Viewers will see camel farmer Daisy Smith and mother Rebecca Fossett, pitch for a spot on the supermarket’s shelves during the Healthy & Wholesome edition of the series.
The family set up Daisy’s Dromedairy - the UK’s only camel dairy farm - in 2021. As demand for cow’s milk alternatives soars, the small business was picked from hundreds of applicants competing for a life changing contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide.
Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4 and Chris Bavin, of Britain's Best Home Cook and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series sees suppliers compete from categories such as dinners, baked goods, treats and store cupboard essentials.
Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, who deliberates on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before whittling contestants down to just two.
The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, before presenting improved products to Julie who decides which product will appear as a Specialbuy in over 970 stores.
Daisy pioneered the idea for her camel dairy farm having grown up on a Camel Experience Farm in Idlicote, Warwickshire, owned by her parents, ex-lion tamers, Joseph & Rebecca.
Daisy says: “When we first started the dairy farm everyone thought we were absolutely raving mad. I certainly never thought I’d be milking a camel. I’ve never even milked a cow.
“Camels are very emotional animals; a dairy camel has to trust you in order for you to be able to milk them. If the camel doesn’t trust you, they won’t drop down their milk.
“While the taste of camel milk is not so different to cow’s milk, it has long been drunk in the Middle East, where it is known for its abundance of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. It is even said Cleopatra used it as a beauty treatment for her skin.
Daisy explains: “Camel milk is an amazing superfood. It’s got a few things about it that really make it stand out. It’s lactose intolerant friendly, it’s rich in Vitamin C – it’s great for your skin – and it has a lot of immune boosting and medicinal properties. Plus, most importantly, it tastes delicious!”
Competing against a broad range of dairy suppliers, Daisy describes the show as a huge moment for her business: “It’s a really big moment to introduce Aldi to camel milk. To have this opportunity is amazing.”
The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to locally sourced products. Aldi has pledged to prioritise home-grown suppliers as it works towards spending an additional £3.5 billion a year with British businesses by the end of 2025.
To find out if Daisy’s Dromedairy Camel Milk made it on to Aldi’s shelves watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4, every Thursday at 8pm until November 24.
