Channel 4 has announced the commissioning of a second series of Aldi’s Next Big Thing, produced by South Shore Productions. The six-part series, which aired last Autumn, featured aspiring food and drink suppliers vying for the opportunity to have their products sold in Aldi supermarkets nationwide.
Presented by Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, the first series showcased a diverse range of creative British suppliers, offering unique products such as edible bugs, camel milk, Yorkshire pudding beer, and rum cake. Viewers were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into Aldi’s stock selection process through the eyes of Julie Ashfield, Aldi’s Managing Director of Buying. Each episode concluded with Julie making the final decision on which product would earn a spot on Aldi shelves, with the winning item available for purchase the following day.
The second series will see Anita and Chris return as Aldi opens its doors to suppliers of all sizes and backgrounds. Julie Ashfield expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming series, stating, “The response to the first series of Aldi’s Next Big Thing was overwhelming. We’ve had such positive feedback on showing shoppers behind the scenes, from tasting and developing products to seeing them land on shelves. We are 100% committed to supporting British businesses, and thanks to Aldi’s Next Big Thing, the British public can be a part of that too. I can’t wait to see what lands on our plates this series.”
Executive Producer James Hedge shared his excitement for the new season, saying, “After the success of last year’s series, we’re excited to welcome a new batch of fantastic UK food and drink suppliers, with more delicious and innovative products. The chance to pitch directly to Aldi’s Managing Director of Buying, Julie Ashfield, and gain her unique insight is a real privilege, and we can’t wait to hear more of her supermarket secrets.”
Simon Cheuk Pong Lee, commissioning executive at Channel 4, expressed his anticipation for the return of Aldi’s Next Big Thing, noting its captivating appeal to viewers. He stated, “Aldi’s Next Big Thing really captured the imagination of viewers. We’re excited to see it return with more fascinating stories of small, often homegrown food and drink producers given the chance of a lifetime to have a presence on shelves up and down the country.”
Aldi’s Next Big Thing is commissioned for Channel 4 by Anna Miralis and Simon Cheuk Pong Lee. The Executive Producers for South Shore are Andrew MacKenzie and James Hedge, with Cher Adamson serving as the Series Producer.
