Lidl Becomes Official Grocer Of England Team

German discount supermarket chain Lidl has signed deals with the England, Scotland and Wales national football teams - to provide them with food.

The separate arrangements with each national side will see it become "official supermarket" of the England team - while it will supply certain products including food and vegetables to the other countries.

The chain's statement said the multi-million pound deals with the English Football Association, the Football Association of Wales and the Scottish Football Association would also see "Lidl become a grassroots partner of all three associations until 2018, financing professional coaching for children."

The partnership with England, due to run until 2018, kicks off on Tuesday ahead of England's friendly against France at Wembley.

Ryan McDonnell, Lidl UK's purchasing director, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Lidl and one that we are both excited and extremely proud to be a part of.

"We look forward to building successful partnerships with the English, Scottish & Welsh FA’s in developing, the sport at both national and community levels."

This is not the first time a supermarket chain has entered into a partnership with England - with Tesco the official supermarket to the team for the World Cup in South Africa.

Lidl's biggest rival, Aldi, signed up earlier this year to be official grocer of the British Olympics Team for next year's Rio Olympics.

Sainsbury's sponsored the London Paralympics in 2012 and Waitrose is the current sponsor of the England cricket team - currently playing Pakistan in a one-day international series in the United Arab Emirates.