Laura Barton, from London, will appear on Channel 4’s ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing’ on Tuesday 7th May, 8pm.

The entrepreneur is behind Granola Butter, a plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, high fibre, and no palm oil product. Laura describes Granola Butter as a magical sweet and salty spread that has the texture of peanut butter with the flavour of granola.

Laura, and her innovative Granola Butter, were picked from hundreds competing for a contract to be stocked in Aldi stores nationwide.

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Presented by author and broadcaster Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories including dinners and baked goods, as well as exciting new category additions: party, world, and confectionery.

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 shortlisting contestants down to just two.  

The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie. The three then taste test the improved products, before Julie decides the winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores. 

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “What’s exciting about this category is the creativity and ingenuity we see. In terms of trends, there’s gut health, menopause support, plus advances in plant-based products and functional foods and drink. We’re looking for something that ticks the box of healthy and nutritious but also has all the flavour and innovation that our customers love.”

Granola Butter was born from the desire to create a sustainable product that challenges the way food is thought about, delivering quality and flavour.

Laura sources her ingredients from local British farmers and manufacturers in the UK, and only imports ingredients that cannot be grown in the UK and have no direct British substitute.

Laura says: “My product is new to the UK market. It has the texture of peanut butter, but it’s made with granola instead of nuts and contains 70% less sugar. It’s an ideal product for people that have nut allergies and are looking for alternatives to nutty spreads.”

The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores.

The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website, which includes a wide selection of groceries from meat to dairy products and everyday essentials, in a bid to help shoppers support British businesses.

To find out if Laura’s Granola butter made it onto Aldi’s shelves, watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4 on Tuesday 7th May.