Lidl has entered into a significant supply agreement with O'Brien Fine Foods, a cooked meats producer based in Kildare, Ireland. The deal, valued at €60 million, involves O'Brien Fine Foods supplying Lidl stores across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and mainland Europe, including countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Romania, and Slovenia.
Established in 2000, O'Brien Fine Foods is a family-run business with two dedicated facilities in Kildare and Westmeath. The company has been supplying Lidl's brand of sliced ham and beef lines since 2011. The partnership with Lidl has contributed to the expansion of O'Brien Fine Foods' workforce from 250 to 600 in recent years.
The range developed by O'Brien Fine Foods for Lidl includes Glensallagh and Deluxe products such as cooked or crumbed Irish ham slices, butcher-style traditional/smoked ham, crumbed ham, cured shaved ham, turkey breast slices, and premium chicken slices.
Kevin Duffy, Senior Buying Director for Lidl Ireland, emphasised Lidl's commitment to supporting local and global Irish producers. The partnership with O'Brien Fine Foods showcases high-quality, 100 percent Irish, Bord Bia Quality Assured products in Lidl stores worldwide.
John O'Brien, Managing Director of O'Brien Fine Foods, expressed gratitude for the continued support from Lidl, highlighting that the partnership has enabled their business to thrive and expand internationally. Sustainability is a core focus for both Lidl and O'Brien Fine Foods, with the latter being a member of Lidl's Supplier Engagement Programme since 2022.
Lidl's Supplier Engagement Programme is a five-year initiative to develop long-term sustainability plans for critical suppliers, focusing on carbon emissions, packaging reductions, circular economy, biodiversity, and water quality. O'Brien Fine Foods is one of over 100 Lidl suppliers attending the retailer's annual Sustainability Summit, where industry experts provide educational sessions on upcoming sustainability topics.
O'Brien Fine Foods is among Lidl's growing network of over 400 Irish suppliers. In 2022, Lidl procured over €1 billion worth of goods from the Irish agri-food industry, with €318 million exported internationally. Lidl has invested over €8 million to date in its Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, supporting small to medium-sized Irish food and drink suppliers by offering them the opportunity to have their products sold in Lidl stores across Ireland.
