FDBusiness.com

ALDI Ireland has announced a new €125 million contract with supplier Dawn Meats. This is a significant contract, worth €25 million annually over the next five years. Following this contract, Dawn Meats will recruit 15 new staff members and add six new lines to the ALDI range. Under the terms of the contract, Dawn Meats will increase their supply to ALDI by 35%.

Dawn Meats is one of ALDI’s longest-standing suppliers, having supplied the retailer since 2010. The Waterford-based supplier has seen incremental growth every year for the last 10 years supplying ALDI. The increased investment and new contract has provided Dawn Meats with the confidence to accelerate a €5 million expansion plan for their facility in Waterford.

Founded in 1980 in Waterford, Dawn Meats employs over 8,000 employees in 12 countries and has 11 sites across Ireland. The company supplies major retailers, manufacturers and food service operators across the globe and contributes approx. €2 billion to rural economies in Ireland and the UK.

Since arriving on the Irish market in 1999, ALDI has had a long-standing commitment to supporting Irish family run suppliers. Family-owned company, Dawn Meats, has been in operation for over 40 years.

This contract with Dawn follows the recent announcement by the retailer to invest €400 million in 30 new stores with the creation of 1,000 new local jobs over the next five years.

The announcement comes as ALDI marks 25 years in Ireland in 2024. Having introduced the discount retail model to the Irish grocery market, ALDI has grown significantly since that time and now employs over 4,650 people across its 161-strong store network in Ireland. ALDI has invested more than €10 billion with Irish suppliers since 1999 and currently works with a network of more than 330 Irish producers.

Commenting on the announcement, Niall Browne (pictured right), CEO of Dawn Meats, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with ALDI for this significant contract. For over 10 years now, we have been proud to be involved with ALDI Ireland’s success story providing an increasing range of consistent quality and sustainably sourced meat products.”

“We look forward to continue developing, growing and innovating with ALDI, building on our long-standing successful relationship.”

Colin Breslin (pictured left), Managing Director of Buying and Services at ALDI Ireland, said: “ALDI is deeply committed to supporting our Irish suppliers. This year, we are marking 25 years of operations in Ireland. Our recent economic impact report revealed that since we first opened in 1999, ALDI has spent more than €10 billion with Irish suppliers, demonstrating the scale of our commitment to Ireland. Today, we’re proud to work with more than 330 Irish suppliers and continue to provide high quality products and unbeatable value to all our customers.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with Dawn Meats, a company that shares our commitment to quality and sustainability. This continued partnership ensures that our customers can enjoy the best Irish beef, sourced sustainably, and produced to the highest standards.”