FDBusiness.com

In 2022, ALDI sourced €1.1 billion of locally produced food and drink from Irish suppliers. In total, ALDI partnered with over 330 Irish producers throughout the year, including long-term relationships with Twomey’s Bakery, ABP Cahir and Mulrines of Donegal. The retailer announced significant new deals with suppliers, including a €9 million contract with Wicklow-based NutriQuick, a deal worth €10 million with Sorrento Pizza from Dublin, and a €100 million deal with Kilkenny based potato producers Iverk Produce.

Last year, ALDI began working with 15 new suppliers for the first time, including Sibly Foods and Builín Blasta, opening opportunities for Irish companies to stock their local produce on the shelves of one of Ireland’s leading retailers.

A €7.5 million deal with Dublin-based confectioners Broderick’s gave the company the opportunity to stock their goods in 300 of ALDI’s 2,200-strong US store network for the first time.

The retailer has invested over €8 million in its ‘Grow with ALDI’ programme to date, which has been running since 2018 and offers Irish small and medium sized businesses the chance to develop their brand. Previous winners include Velo Coffee and Cookie Dó who now supply ALDI’s network of stores across Ireland. In recognition of its dedication to its supplier network, ALDI was voted ‘Ireland’s Best Supporter of Local Suppliers’ at the Checkout National Grocery Retail Awards 2022 for the second consecutive year.

New Stores

Last year, ALDI opened six new stores in Caherciveen, Clonakilty, Ballina, Ardee, Tuam and Mountbellew, increasing its footprint to 155 across the country. ALDI also invested almost €15 million in rebuilding and revamping its existing stores in Killarney, Clonmel and Wexford Town in 2022, with an additional five ALDI stores receiving Project Fresh makeovers. The retailer welcomed over 83%* of all grocery shoppers in Ireland through its stores over the year.

Regionally, ALDI invested almost €16 million in Munster, while it committed to a dedicated West of Ireland expansion plan, which will see the retailer invest €63 million and create more than 140 new full-time jobs across Connacht over 2022 and 2023. The retailer also confirmed plans last year to expand its store network in Dublin with a €73 million investment in 11 new stores over the next five years, the first of which will open shortly in Adamstown.

Job Creation

Last month, the retailer announced an additional 360 new positions, which will bring ALDI’s total employee numbers in Ireland past 5,000 people. ALDI also announced the adoption of the new ‘Living Wage’ recommendation of €13.85, from 1 February, becoming the first Irish supermarket to adopt and pay the Living Wage in 2023. ALDI’s Economic Impact Report confirms a spend by the retailer of almost €160 million on wages in 2022.

*Source: Kantar Worldpanel 25^th December 2022