A LIMERICK food and drink producer has won a lucrative new contract to supply Aldi’s stores nationwide.
Bally Goats Cheese of Newcastle West successfully won a place on the Grow with Aldi supplier development programme, which means that their range of natural and flavoured cheeses will go on sale nationwide from June 6, as part of an Aldi Specialbuys event.
In 2016 the Leahy family decided to grow their goat herd and get into the goat’s cheese business. They currently sell their product in a number of varieties.
Co-Director of Bally Goats Cheese Seamus Leahy said, “To have our cheeses recognised by a global retailer like Aldi is fantastic. Grow with Aldi provides huge exposure for our brand and lets us reach more shoppers than ever before. The support and mentoring offered by the programme has already benefited our business immensely”.
This year Aldi is investing €500,000 in the Grow with Aldi programme which was developed in partnership with Bord Bia, and which has been designed to help small to medium Irish food and drink businesses secure a retail listing with a national retailer.
Participants receive tailored mentoring and access to workshops with Aldi buyers and Bord Bia technical experts, which teaches them the skills to help grow and develop their products, brand and business.
Applicants attended a special Aldi Immersion Day with Bord Bia to pitch their products and meet existing Aldi suppliers. Their products where tasted by the judges and 68 products were selected to take part in the Aldi Specialbuys event.
Aldi Ireland Group Buying Director John Curtin said, “Now in its second year, Grow with Aldi delivers for everyone involved. Small and medium sized producers get the chance to have their product sold nationally, shoppers get to enjoy the best Irish-made products being created and Aldi gets to work with even more Irish food and drink producers.
68 fantastic products that represent the very best of Ireland’s vibrant food industry will take part in our Specialbuys event.
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