WD Meats and Glens of Antrim Potatoes part of LIDL's £17m link with Causeway Coast and Glens area
Lidl Northern Ireland has procured more than £17m worth of goods and services from local suppliers and business partners across the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.
That’s the figure for the financial year 24/25, ending February, according to its latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report.
Of this, more than £73,000 worth of services were procured from five local business partners within the area, whilst over £17 million worth of goods were procured from two local agri-food producers, for sale across Lidl Northern Ireland’s network of 44 stores throughout the region.
£413 million worth of produce was procured and exported globally through Lidl’s expansive international store network, showcasing the best of local produce across thousands of Lidl stores internationally, including significant contracts with suppliers from the Causeway Coast and Glens, WD Meats and Glens of Antrim Potatoes which export to Lidl stores both in the EU and internationally.
Overall, the report reveals that the supermarket retailer procured more than half-a-billion pounds (£557 million) from local suppliers and business partners across Northern Ireland.
The retailer procured goods from more than 90 local agri-food suppliers, with £75 million of these sold in Lidl stores across Northern Ireland, and more than 85% (£413 million) shipped outside the region to Lidl’s expansive network of stores in Great Britain, Europe and internationally.
Gordon Cruikshanks, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland said: “Every year, our 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.
"Through our operations, we’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: “Our longstanding relationships with local suppliers and business partners has been paramount to our sustained growth and success in Northern Ireland. With some of our suppliers working with us since we opened our doors 26 years ago in 1999, to now exporting millions of pounds worth of Northern Ireland produce across the globe, we very much see our suppliers as an extension of our own operations.”