Record British apple and pear sales as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Aldi win the 2026 BAPL Retailer Awards
Combined annual sales reach 180,506 tonnes, up 10.4%, as Tesco edges Aldi by just 190 tonnes for the highest British apple sales award.
British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL), the organisation representing UK commercial apple and pear growers, has announced record sales for the 2025/26 season and named the winners of its 2026 retailer awards.
BAPL members supplied 180,506 tonnes of British apples and pears to UK supermarkets during the season. That’s 10.4% more than in 2024/25 and the highest ever total since BAPL’s records began.
The six awards were presented today at the BAPL British Apple Harvest Event at The Night Yard, Canterbury, hosted by Mansfields.
Alongside its awards for the highest overall sales of British apples and pears, BAPL has introduced two new award categories this year: Highest Early Season Sales and Market Outperformance.
The Highest Early Season Sales awards recognise retailers that give the British season a strong launch when the new crop reaches stores in September and October. Early availability, prominent displays and effective promotion help build shopper awareness and create momentum for British fruit throughout the season.
The Market Outperformance awards compare each retailer’s share of British apple or pear sales with its share of the overall grocery market. This provides a fairer measure of commitment by retailers and recognises those selling substantially more British fruit than their overall market share.
The 2026 BAPL Retailer Award winners are:
| Award | Apple | Pears |
| Highest Sales | Tesco | Sainsbury’s |
| Highest Early Season Sales | Lidl | Sainsbury’s |
| Market Outperformance | Aldi | Lidl |
Across the full season, British apple sales reached a record 162,331 tonnes, an increase of 8.6% on 2024/25. Overall British pear sales rose by 29.3% to 18,175 tonnes, their highest level since 2018/19.
The contest for the highest British apple sales was the closest in 13 years. Tesco took the award after selling 34,436 tonnes, just 190 tonnes ahead of Aldi’s record total of 34,246 tonnes.
Sainsbury’s led British pear sales with 6,012 tonnes, an increase of 13.7% on the previous season.
Lidl sold 4,313 tonnes of British apples during September and October 2025, giving it the strongest early-season apple sales performance.
Sainsbury’s led early-season British pear sales, selling 847 tonnes during the same two-month period.
Aldi received the British Apple Market Outperformance award after accounting for 21.2% of British apple sales among the retailers included in the analysis, compared with an average grocery market share of 10.5%. This produced an outperformance index of 2.02, meaning Aldi achieved just over twice the share of British apple sales that might be expected from its grocery market presence.
For British pears, Lidl accounted for 18.9% of sales among the retailers included in the analysis, compared with an average grocery market share of 8.3%. This produced an outperformance index of an outstanding 2.28.
Commenting on the results, Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL, said: “This season the growers we represent delivered record sales of British apples and pears. That is a tribute to the excellent eating quality of British fruit, the commitment of our growers and packers, and the support shown by retailer buying teams.
“The competition for the top spot in British apple sales was the closest in 13 years. We knew of Tesco’s ambition to win because the UK CEO, Ashwin Prasad, name-checked the award at the NFU Conference in February. But Tesco only just made it. Aldi finished just 190 tonnes behind and achieved its highest British apple volume on record.
“When British apples and pears are available, well promoted and given the space they deserve, shoppers choose them. This year’s winners have demonstrated what is possible through a strong start to the season, sustained sales volumes and a commitment to British fruit that, for many, goes well beyond their overall share of the grocery market.
“Congratulations to Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, and thank you to all our retail partners for their support. Growers have delivered an excellent record-breaking crop, retailers have shown that British fruit sells and consumers have demonstrated strong demand for it.”
BAPL also used the orchard event to encourage retailers to start planning their entries for the Best British Apple Launch Award 2026. Open to all UK retailers, the award recognises the most effective campaign supporting the start of the British apple season. Lidl won the inaugural award last year. Entries open in mid-December and close on 31 January 2027. Further information is available at https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/best-british-apple-launch-award-2026/
VIEW ALL THE DATA BEHIND THESE SIX BAPL RETAILER AWARDS
BAPL publishes monthly data on British apple and pear sales through UK supermarkets:
British apple sales: https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data
British pear sales: https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data-pears/
Pictured left to right:
Ali Capper, British Apples & Pears Limited
Hannah Davies and Paul Curtis, Tesco
Ralph Newbold and Andrew Restall, Sainsbury’s
Emily Dench and Sam Craddock, Aldi
Darren de Smidt, Lidl