Lidl’s push for sustainability in its produce will see it sell fewer meat products over the coming years as part of its commitment to vastly increase its plant-based range from 2025 and beyond.

The cut-price supermarket’s shelves will see a gradual replacement of animal products with vegan alternatives, the motivation being environmental, Lidl pinpointing the need for food security across the globe.

The company’s chief buyer, Christoph Graf, spoke of the German company’s plans at the recent Berlin International Green Week, highlighting that food resources need to be managed carefully and less meat should be eaten.

Graf said: “We need a more conscious diet all over the world to feed ourselves within our planetary limits.” While insisting that Lidl is not trying to tell its customers how to live their lives, Graf also stated that there is “no alternative” to meat reduction as there is “no second planet”.