FAST-growth retailer Lidl is serving up a taste of home this month as 11 new products from four local producers have been selected to go on sale across all its 200 stores in Ireland (including 38 in the north).
Eleven locally-made artisan products crafted in Northern Ireland - ranging from fiery chocolate to succulent pulled meats - were selected as winners in this year’s Lidl 'Kick Start' supplier development programme.
It is designed to help small and medium size local food and drink producers grow their brand, build their supply network and reach new customer audiences.
Earlier this year, Lidl called on producers to enter the programme and pitch their products, and 11 new products from Northern Ireland passed the taste test and have earned their place on the shelves this month.
This year’s winning range includes Erne Larder Marmalade with Whiskey from Fermanagh, Little Meat Co’s pulled meat range (chicken, turkey and pork), Oh So Lean ready meals (chicken curry, chilli chicken and spicy vegetable noodles), Oh So Lean smoked burgers (turkey and steak) and Wee ChoCo chocolate bars (honeycomb and chilli and lime) – all produced in County Down.
Chocolatier and director of Wee ChoCo Steph Fulton, whose honeycomb and chilli and lime chocolate bars are among the products being stocked by Lidl, said: “Kick Start is an unrivalled platform for a small company like ours to boost our business and achieve a higher level of exposure for our products and brand.
“We're delighted that one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing retailers has given its endorsement to our products for great taste and quality and we look forward to utilising its expertise to help make us export success story. We can’t wait to see where this programme takes us.”
As well as the limited edition in-store promotion, Kick Start also provides the ambitious companies with free business development seminars delivered by a panel of industry experts, covering key disciplines such as quality control, packaging, communications and brand building.
This year’s winning range includes Erne Larder marmalade with whiskey from Fermanagh, Little Meat Co’s pulled meat range (chicken, turkey and pork), Oh So Lean ready meals (chicken curry, chilli chicken and spicy vegetable noodles), Oh So Lean smoked burgers (turkey and steak) and Wee ChoCo chocolate bars, all produced in County Down.
Representing a major investment into its local supplier network, Lidl says its 2020 Kick Start programme is now open for applications (details at www.lidl-ni.co.uk/kickstart).
