This phrase, in place of “lots of,” has become ubiquitous in the last two years. It might be helpful to remember there are tons, tons, and tonnes.
Ton, in the United States, means 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms).
Ton, in the United Kingdom, means 2,240 pounds (1,016 kilograms).
Tonne is the British term for what Americans call a Metric Ton and is 2,204 pounds because that is the same as 1,000 kilograms.