GROCERY chain Lidl has boosted the Scottish dairy sector by striking supply deals with farmers around the country.

The German discounter said the supplies of milk, cheese and butter will be sold under its Aberdoyle Dairies range, which is only available in its Scottish stores.

It described the commitment as a “multi-million pound investment” in the industry.

The bulk of the produce comes via Bridge of Allan-based Graham's The Family Dairy, which processes the dairy goods before dispatching them to Lidl's central distribution hub.

The range, which is exclusive to the retailer, is available in all of Lidl’s 91 stores in Scotland.

Some 30 products are currently sold under the range, with Lidl planning to add a further 10 in the coming months.

And Lidl signalled its intention to put more locally-sourced Scottish products to its shelves after establishing a dedicated buying team for Scotland.

The team has expanded the Scottish range by around one-third in the last six months. It is committed to growing the collection by a further 50 per cent before the end of the year. By that stage around one-quarter of the products sold in Lidl's Scottish stores will be sourced in Scotland.

Ross Millar, managing director of Lidl in Scotland, said: “We’re focused on ensuring our customers receive the freshest, highest-quality products possible at the best price. We look forward to adding more Scottish produce to the range, further investing in the Scottish economy and building even stronger relationships with our suppliers, including Graham’s The Family Dairy with whom we have worked with for 15 years now.”