Lidl invested €41m. into Mayo agri-food industry in 2022
LIDL Ireland has today announced a total of €41 million was invested in the Mayo agri-food industry by the retailer in 2022.
This makes up part of a total of €1 billion that has been invested in the Irish agri-food industry last year.
The retailer’s latest Supplier Impact Report also outlines that of that €1 billion, €682 million stayed within Lidl Ireland’s operations to be sold locally to the retailers’ Irish customers and €318 million was exported internationally through Lidl’s expansive network of stores, showcasing the best of Irish produce on the global stage.
Lidl’s key Mayo suppliers include Killala-based Carr & Sons Seafood who supply the retailer with premium smoked salmon products. From a €20 million deal with Bantry-based Keohane Seafoods to a €15 million contract with Dublin Meat Company, and an €8 million deal secured with Donegal’s Mulrines juice and smoothie company, suppliers all around Ireland have benefitted from Lidl’s support in 2022.
At a micro-level, Lidl’s Kickstart Supplier Development Programme supported by Bord Bia, is designed to give small and medium-sized Irish food and drink businesses the opportunity to advance their product, brand, and business with dedicated support from Lidl experts along the way. Now in its seventh year, Lidl has invested more than €7 million in the Kickstart programme to date, which has empowered hundreds of unique Irish artisan suppliers to showcase their produce to the retailer’s devoted customer base of more than 1.5 million shoppers each week.
Launching the new report findings, J.P. Scally, CEO, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Our fantastic suppliers represent the best of Ireland’s food and drink industry and we’re proud to showcase the high calibre of their products on our shelves in Ireland and on the global stage through our Lidl network. In 2022, Lidl Ireland procured more than €1 billion worth of goods from Irish suppliers. This record investment is a huge driver of economic growth, and this report demonstrates just how important supplier relationships are not only to the ongoing success of our business, but to the 400 plus local producers that we work with and their employees across the country.
“Since 2018, we have been working hard to increase our customer offering, expanding our product range by more than 40% and tripling our buying team to focus on sourcing as many Irish products as possible, helping customers to do their full shop with Lidl while also buying top quality Irish products. As we look ahead to this upcoming year, we look forward to nurturing new and fruitful supplier partnerships and supporting even more local businesses to success.”