Retail News|February 2021|www.retailnews.ie|9
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Grow with Aldi investment hits €3m ALDI has announced the return of its ‘Grow with Aldi’ supplier development programme for 2021, which will see it supporting Irish suppliers, offering them the chance to become a core range listing in all 145 Aldi Ireland stores. To date, over 500 Irish suppliers have entered the Grow with Aldi programme over the last three years, with Aldi’s investment hitting €3m. This year, the Grow with Aldi message is sustainability, and entrants are encouraged to demonstrate how their product/company is focusing on sustainability as a top priority. This year will also see non-food related Irish products have the chance to appear on Aldi’s shelves.
Pictured is Deborah Crowley from Funky Monkey Foods, one of the Grow with Aldi 2020 winners, along with John Curtin, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland.
Tesco Ireland certified a Great Place to Work TESCO Ireland has been officially certified a Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year. The accolade was assessed and granted through Great Place to Work’s Trust Index employee survey, followed by a thorough Culture Audit demonstrating policies and practices. This year, Tesco was commended by GPTW for its Covid-19 response in prioritising the safety of colleagues and customers alike. Throughout the pandemic, Tesco continued to support colleagues with additional bonuses, enhanced colleague discounts, life assurance and earlier access to staff rewards for new colleagues. “We’re very proud to have retained the Great Place to Work standard for the fourth consecutive year,” said Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland. “Our teams, like many others, have been tested like never before in the past year as the way we work has changed significantly. Our colleagues have completely risen to the challenge and worked hard to help and safely serve our shoppers a little better every day. This accreditation is a tribute to all our colleagues. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Tony Pannu (front centre), store manager, Tesco Swords Airside, is pictured with his team celebrating that Tesco has been officially certified a Great Place to Work 2021 for the fourth consecutive year.
“The first three years of the programme were very successful for everyone involved, and Aldi forged new links with fantastic Irish suppliers from around the country,” revealed John Curtin, Aldi Ireland Group Buying Director. “During Covid-19, we were also in a position to help even more small Irish suppliers listing on our shelves as part of the Grow with Aldi programme, so we know that the quality of food and drink produced in Ireland is outstanding. This year, we are asking suppliers to include products that highlight their work on sustainable food and products, we are looking forward to sampling what is on offer, as well as trying out non-food related products as part of the programme for the first time.” Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, said: “Recent research by the Bord Bia Thinking House revealed that 39% of Irish consumers are buying local grocery brands more often and the Grow with Aldi programme plays an important role in showcasing the distinctive, innovative and delicious products small and medium Irish suppliers are working hard to create. The programme also supports participants as they develop essential business skills and capabilities through workshops and tailored mentoring, which is key to building a resilient and thriving indigenous food and drink sector for the years ahead.” Further details are available at www.aldi.ie/grow. Aldi also confirmed it is extending its temporary shorter payment terms initiative for small and medium Irish suppliers for the entirety of 2021, meaning that Aldi will continue to process payments for suppliers that transact up to €1m worth of business annually within five working days.
Food and drink exports declined by 2% in 2020 THE value of exports of Irish food, drink and horticulture were held to a marginal 2% decline in 2020, valued at €13 billion (down from €13.2 billion in 2019), during a period of unprecedented change and challenge that saw the largest disruption to normal market operation, globally, since the end of World War II. The figures from the annual Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2020/2021 underline the dividend of a decade-long diversification strategy that has seen Ireland achieve a broad global base for its food and drink exports, which now reach in excess of 180 countries. Increases have been recorded in the value of Irish dairy, pigmeat and sheepmeat exports, along with very significant increases in the value of exports to Africa and the Middle East as new international markets come to the fore. Launching the report, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, said that Ireland’s food and drink producers “found a new level of resilience that saw exports in 2020 of close to 2019 levels”. He vowed that this year, the Department and Bord Bia will “focus on supporting our primary producers and manufacturers as they trade through continued uncertainty to support jobs and communities throughout Ireland.” The Chief Executive of Bord Bia, Tara McCarthy, added: “Last year was a pivotal year of learning for us all and 2021 will be even more significant in terms of how we apply these learnings to rebuild and drive growth in new and emerging markets. The success of the industry’s transition to doing business virtually – from participation at online trade fairs to the development pioneering virtual trade missions – show that we can, and we will, rise to the challenge of doing business in new and inventive ways. This resourceful approach, coupled with the sector’s focus on geographic and customer diversification over the past decade has now paid dividends and is integral to safeguarding our exports.”
