FDBusiness.com

Lidl Ireland has announced a new contract extension worth more than €1 million with Lakeland Dairies, based in County Cavan. This new deal will see the Killeshandra-based dairy co-op supply a core range of ice cream products including an exclusive festive Deluxe ice cream range to Lidl stores nationwide this Christmas. Lakeland Dairies currently supplies an existing assortment of Irish butter and milk products to Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland stores that is worth over €18 million.

The latest deal expands the range of locally produced Irish ice cream products to ten. In addition to an increase of exports to selected Lidl stores in the Czech Republic alongside its already existing export of long-life milk to Lidl stores in Great Britain.

Lidl and Lakeland Dairies have been working together since 2000 when Lidl first arrived in Ireland. Lakeland Dairies is a farmer-owned dairy processing co-operative, made up of over 3,200 family run farms, with a heritage of excellence spanning over 120 years. With sustainability at the heart of the business, Lakeland farmers are constantly evolving farming and production methods to deliver on a strong history in producing the most sustainable, environmentally friendly dairy milk.

Lakeland Dairies currently operates eight processing sites (four in Republic of Ireland and four in Northern Ireland). Supplying annually over 2 billion litres of quality fresh milk and cream used in products throughout Ireland and around the globe. The latest deal will see Lidl’s Ice Cream range sourced from the processing plant in Killeshandra, while Irish Creamery Butter is sourced at the production facility in County Monaghan and the supply of Flavoured Milk and UHT Milk from the plant in Newtownards, County Down.

Commenting on the contract extension and highlighting the new products, Emma Purcell (pictured right), Buyer, Lidl Ireland said: “Lakelands Dairy are a valued and trusted supplier of Lidl for many years, supporting our national supply chain with exceptional dairy products. Earlier this year, they won an award for ‘Responsible Sourcing in Raw Materials’ at our Lidl Supplier Recognition Awards for their introduction of Fairtrade cocoa into our product range. This amplifies their excellent track record on product quality and innovation making Lakeland Dairies a strong choice for us as we continue our drive to provide our customers with quality products and the best value for money. We are extremely proud to sign this latest deal and to launch our brand-new Deluxe Ice Cream range in stores nationwide and further afield through export to the Czech Republic. We are confident this new luxury treat will be a big hit this festive season.”

Tommy O’Donoghue (pictured left), Head of Consumer Foods at Lakeland Dairies, said: “We are delighted to expand our product range with Lidl and secure this latest deal. Through our ongoing partnership, and considerable investment from the team at Lidl, it gives us a huge opportunity to place our products in the homes of their customers across the domestic and international market. At Lakeland Dairies we pride ourselves on using only the finest dairy ingredients, working with over 3,200 Irish dairy farmers and supporting vital jobs in rural communities.”

Lidl currently has a network of more than 400 Irish suppliers.