Lidl Ireland have agreed a new €4m supply deal with wild Atlantic seafood processor Errigal Bay which will see the company's products on Lidl shelves in seven European countries.
Errigal Bay has been supplying Lidl with seafood products for the last 13 years.
The new deal will see 670 tonnes of Errigal Bay whole Irish crab, crab claw, langoustines, bulot and velvet crab products exported to mainland Europe.
The products will be stocked in over 3,250 Lidl stores in Spain, Portugal, France, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden as part of the retailer's 2020 Christmas offering.
Errigal Bay is the country's largest processor of wild Atlantic shellfish. It exports a range of premium quality seafood products, including crab, scallop, whelk, prawns, langoustine and lobster from their processing facilities in Donegal and Wexford.
Kevin Haverty, Buying Director at Lidl Ireland, said that supporting local Irish producers has always been a core commitment for Lidl and the company strives to provide high-quality products for its customers while always ensuring that they are sourced directly from trusted producers such as Errigal Bay.
"Many Irish food producers have faced months of hardship and uncertainty as a result of Covid-19, with untold impact to their businesses. We are proud to be able to support our Irish suppliers at this time and to assist them in accessing new international markets and unlock further growth," Mr Haverty said.
"Irish produce is world renowned for its high quality and value and we're pleased to facilitate the growth of an Irish supplier, extending quality Irish produce to our EU neighbours," he added.
Liam Young, CEO of Errigal Bay, said that Lidl Ireland has been a dedicated partner of the company for the last 13 years.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to grow and expand our partnership, entering into Lidl markets across Europe for the Christmas period and to increase our footprint in the Irish store network also," he said.
"This commitment will allow us to continue to strengthen and grow our employee numbers in rural communities that need investment and employment," he added.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said it was encouraging to see such recognition and investment in Irish food suppliers like Errigal Bay from such a prominent retailer as Lidl.
"It has been a challenging year for many, and our seafood sector continues to face many challenges. However, deals such as this with Irish premium quality seafood products being exported to additional stores across seven European markets supports and helps sustain our local fishing communities and partners," the Minister added.
