Aldi's Next Big Thing

Cameras look on as small-scale British food and drink producers get the rare opportunity to pitch their products to buyers of Britain's fourth biggest supermarket. Among those involved in the 'dinner time' category of presentations are two young hopefuls who think insects are the future of food, an ambitious sauce-maker who creates her product in her small south London flat, and a pie-maker who's dedicated his life to achieving pie perfection.

The nationwide search for new products to be stocked on Aldi's shelves continues with the bakery category. Participants include a chef from Florida who's patented his own dessert sushi, a pair of ambitious young donut connoisseurs, a patisserie perfectionist who has given her Parisian pastries an Indian twist, and an engaged couple whose fruit cakes pack a serious rum punch.

Aldi's head buyer Julie goes on the hunt for the next healthy and wholesome product. From camel's milk to kombucha, roast dinner kimchi and protein-packed fava beans, Julie's tastebuds are put to the test. After a site visit by Chris Bavin and Anita Rani to find out if they're really ready to scale and supply to almost 1,000 Aldi stores, one lucky supplier is selected and lands a contract that will change their business forever.

Cameras look on as small-scale fresh and deli specialist producers get the rare opportunity to pitch their products to bosses of the major supermarket. The food suppliers pitching to Aldi's head of buying include the captain of GB's Butchery Olympics team, two loved-up hipsters hawking vegan cheese and an all-singing, all-dancing Indian snack obsessive who wants to make Melton Mowbray famous for samosas. Presented by Anita Rani and award-winning grocer Chris Bavin.

Products including Norfolk mustard ice-cream and chocolate-flavoured pasta bid to make their way onto the shelves at Aldi. Flavour is the watch word, as the suppliers do their best to convince the retailer's representative Julie that their product can compete with the iconic brands that customers all know and love. Presented by Anita Rani and award-winning grocer Chris Bavin.

In the final week in the tasting room, supermarket buyer Julie Ashfield is looking for her chain's next big thing in the `treat" category. Among the wild and the wacky produce, are some hand-made chocolates that will definitely tug at the heartstrings, beer-filled Yorkshire puddings and a bar of chocolate packed with crisps vying for a coveted place on the shelves. Presented by Anita Rani and Chris Bavin.

Behind the scenes as Aldi bids to become the nation's number one festive supermarket. But will a collapsing panna cotta and a hitch with the Yorkshire puddings put a dent in their plans?

Cameras look on as small-scale British food and drink producers get the rare opportunity to pitch their products to Aldi executives. The first batch of six suppliers pitch their products in the dinner time category. Stormzy's personal chef pitches her ready meal version of his favourite dinner. An event caterer has a multicoloured spin on the humble burger and two sibling butchers want to bring their 'unholy trinity' of meats to the masses. Out of six, two are chosen to develop their products, before one is given the biggest order they've ever received.

In bakery week, a father and daughter duo hope to bowl over Managing Director of Buying Julie with their novelty-shaped bread. Plus: a couple who think edible raw cookie dough is the future, a father and son with a very flaky Jamaican pastry, a foraging obsessive pitches a 'whoopie pie', and a baking enthusiast presents her unique filled brioche. But just one new bakery product will be chosen to be stocked in stores across the country.

Food and drink producers pitch their party food products to Aldi executives, including a high-end charcuterie with a twist and boozy dessert sauces perfect for a dinner party.

It's a battle of six nations at HQ, with products including a Filipino ketchup made from bananas; some Nigerian puff puff - 'like donuts, but better' - and a soul food 'love dust' guaranteed to bring some fiery heat to the kitchen. Representing Turkey is a DIY kebab marinade and from Jamaica comes a jackfruit mutton ready meal.

An eclectic group pitch to Aldi for the Healthy and Wholesome category. Products include a protein ball with the divisive name of Dung; a healthy spin on ginger beer that promises to pack a fiery punch; and a mushroom obsessive who's left the city behind to set up a farm in the Welsh mountains. A young entrepreneur pitches her innovative low-sugar spread of granola butter. All six producers pitch to Managing Director of Buying Julie Ashfield, accompanied by Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, but just two will be chosen to develop their products further.