Tesco Ireland has expanded its €200m multi-year partnerships with Irish suppliers around the country.
Over the coming weeks Tesco said it will reaffirm its commitments to several Irish brands including Irish Yogurts, Country Crest, Freshways, Silver Pail, Ballymaguire Foods, Bandon Vale and Crust & Crumb.
The investment also includes a €36m agreement with dairy co-op Aurivo to supply 28 million litres of milk, branded butter and milkshakes to the supermarket group's 177 stores nationwide.
Over 1,000 farms from 14 counties will continue to provide 100% Irish sourced fresh milk, daily, to service the contract.
Aurivo, which includes the Connacht Gold, Donegal Creameries, and Arrabawn brands, employs 700 people throughout the west of Ireland, and exports to almost 50 countries.
Tesco said it buys €1.6 billion of Irish food and drink annually, more than the value of Irish food and drink exported to any country in the European Union.
This makes Tesco the single largest retail purchaser of Irish food and drink in the world, as verified by Indecon Economic Consultants.
Joe Manning, Commercial Director at Tesco Ireland, said the supermarket group was giving multi-year certainty to its partners, so they can further develop and grow with confidence, having already enjoyed long relationships with Tesco over many years.
"We are committed to providing our customers with outstanding quality, choice, and availability of fresh and packaged products. Fortunately, the Irish agrifood sector is similarly focused on delivering for our customers, which is why we are investing this €200m in new and expanded agreements with several Irish agrifood suppliers," he added.
Aurivo, which includes the Connacht Gold, Donegal Creameries, and Arrabawn brands, employs 700 people throughout the west of Ireland, and exports to almost 50 countries.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said the new €200m investment announced by Tesco Ireland in Donegal represents a vote of confidence in the Irish agrifood sector.
He said it underlines the performance and value of Irish quality products and the significant economic contribution of the country's agri food producers to our rural and national communities.
