Aldi plans to spend an extra £3.5 billion a year with British businesses

To help find them, Aldi is launching a new competition called Aldi's Next Big Thing on Chanel 4 which will see 36 small businesses compete to win a place in Aldi's Specialbuys and gain massive exposure in the process.

The show will be a great opportunity for startups to see behind the scenes and observe the decision-making process at one of the UK's largest retailers. Aldi's Managing Director of buying, Julie Ashfield, will consider price, packaging, customer demand, and the ability to scale up as she decides who will win each episode's Specialbuy space. Competitors will pitch a variety of products from dinner and baked goods, to store cupboard essentials and delicious treats.

The first episode airs on Channel 4 at 8 PM on Thursday 20th October and according to The Guardian, it might be just the TV you've been looking for.

More good news for food and drink startups

In other good news for food and drink start-ups, V3 Ventures recently announced a €100m fund to invest in start-ups including food and beverage start-ups from the UK. The low pound also makes it a great time for startups to export products out of the UK.