Lidl Northern Ireland reported in its annual Supplier Impact Report that it sourced a record £455 million worth of goods from the local agri-food sector in the last financial year (FY 22/23 ending February). This represents an increase of over 30% compared to £347 million in the previous year (FY21/22).
The report also highlighted that £390 million of the £455 million worth of goods were exported worldwide through Lidl’s extensive international store network. This global reach has seen Northern Ireland products shine in thousands of Lidl stores across Great Britain and Ireland, as well as Romania, Greece and Cyprus.
This year’s report reiterates Lidl’s significant economic contribution to the agri-food industry and confirms Lidl’s enduring commitment to sourcing locally grown produce. Next year Lidl Northern Ireland will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of its first store in Cookstown in 1999.
From Willowbrook’s fresh salads and Hellbent’s spicy sausages, both produced in Newtownards, to delicious baked goods from Holmes Bakery in Portadown and Dale Farm in Belfast, Cookstown and Kilrea. Lidl’s global customers will have access to Northern Ireland’s growing range of authentic local products, from delicious ice cream to a growing range of authentic local produce.
In addition to its well-established supplier network, Lidl Northern Ireland is committed to helping local businesses realize their potential through its pioneering Kickstart Supplier Development Program. The program provides SMEs with training and guidance in areas vital to business development such as quality control, packaging, marketing and public relations. It also includes placing their products on the shelves of Lidl stores across the island.
Now in its sixth year, the Kickstart initiative has seen Lidl invest more than €8 million to support more than 400 small and medium-sized suppliers across the island of Ireland.