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Newry's Crilco Confectionary is one of 22 businesses across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, that Lidl Northern Ireland has procured more than £20 million worth of goods and services from, according to its latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report published this week.
The retailer revealed that over £13 million worth of goods were procured from nine local agri-food producers in the area for sale across Lidl Northern Ireland's 44 stores throughout the region. A further £6 million worth of services were procured from 13 local business partners within Newry, Mourne and Down.
The report also showed that £413 million worth of produce was procured and exported globally through Lidl's international store network, showcasing local produce across thousands of Lidl stores internationally. Significant contracts with Newry, Mourne and Down suppliers including Crilco Confectionary, Willowbrook Foods, Lynn's Country Foods, Lecale Harvest and Strangford Coffee have seen their products exported to Lidl stores across Ireland, the EU and internationally.
Overall across Northern Ireland, the supermarket retailer procured more than half a billion pounds (£557 million) from local suppliers and business partners. The retailer worked with more than 90 local agri-food suppliers, with £75 million of these goods sold in Lidl stores across Northern Ireland, and more than 85 per cent (£413 million) shipped outside the region to Lidl's network of stores in Great Britain, Europe and internationally.
Lidl's Kickstart Supplier Development Programme continues to support small and medium-sized local producers to boost their brand, enhance their supply and reach new customer audiences. Backed by the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association, Lidl has invested more than £4 million in showcasing innovative homegrown produce through Kickstart since 2018.
Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director of Lidl Northern Ireland, said the annual Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report demonstrates "our significant investment in the Northern Ireland economy - through longstanding, meaningful relationships with our growing network of more than 115 local suppliers and business partners."
He added that through their operations, they're "proud to play an important role in showcasing the best homegrown, Northern Ireland produce globally, and bring high quality food and drink from our region to millions of shoppers across Europe every day."
Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland, said their longstanding relationships with local suppliers and business partners has been "paramount to our sustained growth and success in Northern Ireland." He noted that some suppliers have been working with Lidl since they opened their doors 26 years ago in 1999, and are now exporting millions of pounds worth of Northern Ireland produce across the globe.
The Impact Report launch coincides with publication of Lidl Northern Ireland's financial results for the FY 24/25 period which recorded turnover of £523 million. Much of this has been reinvested locally to support the retailer's expansion plans including newly constructed refurbished stores opened recently in Newcastle and Cookstown, as well as a brand new store in Ballysillan which opened earlier this month. The retailer marked its 25th anniversary in the region in 2024 and commissioned a major economic report which revealed it contributed a record £360 million into the local economy in 2023, doubling its annual economic contribution over the past five years and supporting almost 7,000 jobs across the region.
Check out more information on their Kickstart programme at www.lidl-ni.co.uk
