Kilkenny’s small food and drink producers invited to ‘Grow with Aldi’
SUPERMARKET chain Aldi is giving Kilkenny’s small to medium food and drink producers the opportunity to have their products stocked in their stores nationwide.
Aldi is now seeking applications to take part in the 2019 Grow with Aldi supplier development programme.
Following its successful launch in 2018, Aldi is investing €500,000 in this year’s Grow with Aldi programme to support up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink companies to develop market-ready products for sale in its 137 stores nationwide.
Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, the programme is designed to help small and medium producers develop their brand and build their supply network. Participants will receive tailored mentoring and bespoke workshops with Aldi buyers, Aldi’s Marketing team and Bord Bia technical experts.
Aldi will pick up to 70 of the products entered to be listed as part of the Grow with Aldi Specialbuy event in June 2019, with each supplier providing a guaranteed volume of their product. Up to five of the products will then be chosen to become core listed products, with the suppliers winning a contract to supply Aldi’s Irish stores year-round.
Last year, 230 suppliers applied to take part in Grow with Aldi. Goatsbridge Fish Processors, based in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny was one of the producers chosen to be listed nationally as part of the August 2018 Grow with Aldi Specialbuys event.
Five of the suppliers that took part in the Specialbuys event went on to become long-term Aldi suppliers and now have their products permanently on sale in Aldi’s 137 stores nationwide. These include:
- Ballyhoura Apple Farm, Limerick – Pure Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
- Gran Grans, Galway – Lemon Marmalade
- Rebel Chilli, Cork – Red Rebel Chilli sauce
- Velo Coffee, Cork – Whole Bean & Ground Coffee
- Lullaby Milk, Cork – Lullaby Milk
Speaking at the 2019 Grow with Aldi launch, John Curtin, Aldi Ireland Group Buying Director, said:
“The impact of the programme lives beyond the five suppliers. Grow with Aldi also presented Aldi with the opportunity to work with other applicants from 2018. For example, The Scullery, who had a range of sauces listed in our stores during Christmas. Our weekly Specialbuys programme also recently included Kelly’s Vegetarian Pudding and Wild Oats range of natural soaps and body oils. We are also working with Finnegan’s Farm and Glastry Farm on a range of vegetables and ice-cream products for 2019.”
“The quality of food and drink produced in Ireland is second to none and I am very much looking forward to tasting many of the products that enter this year.”
Commenting at the launch, celebrity chef Richard Corrigan said: “Hands down Ireland now produces some of the most exciting food in the world. The quality and diversity of the products Irish food entrepreneurs are producing is exceptional and I’m delighted to be here at the launch of Grow with Aldi that fosters such innovation. It provides a great opportunity for Irish producers to see their products welcomed into the limelight.”
Food and drink companies in Ireland with ambitions to take their product from concept to shelf and see it stocked in Aldi’s 137 Irish stores can apply for the Grow with Aldi supplier development programme by contacting grow@aldi.ie. Further details are available at www.aldi.ie/grow.
