Lidl Ireland, Kerry Dairy Ireland partner for US$2.2M supply deal

IRELAND – Lidl Ireland has announced a collaboration with Kerry Dairy Ireland, a renowned leader in dairy innovation and sustainability, to launch a new private-label infant formula range. 

The partnership, which builds on more than two decades of cooperation between the two Irish brands, includes a €2 million annual supply deal. 

This move is seen as a significant step forward in Lidl’s efforts to offer quality, affordable products to Irish consumers while leveraging local expertise in food and nutrition.

The new infant formula range is manufactured at Kerry Dairy Ireland’s state-of-the-art facility in Charleville, County Cork, and is now available across Lidl’s 223 stores on the island of Ireland. 

The product is designed for use in combination with breastfeeding or as a complete formula solution for bottle-fed infants, providing parents with greater choice and accessibility to quality infant milk at competitive prices.

Kerry Dairy Ireland is globally recognized for its 50-year history of pioneering healthier, tastier, and more sustainable food solutions. 

Tim Gault, Commercial Director at Kerry Dairy Ireland, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the deal. 

“Kerry Dairy Ireland has been a strategic partner and supplier to Lidl Ireland for over 20 years, and we’re proud to continue building on this partnership,” he said.

“This collaboration allows us to bring sustainable, innovative products to Lidl customers, leveraging our expertise in research, development, and manufacturing.”

Kerry Dairy Ireland’s commitment to sustainability and nutrition aligns with Lidl’s focus on providing quality at market-leading value. 

The collaboration has enabled Lidl to meet consumer demand for affordable infant formula products, addressing a significant challenge for parents in terms of cost. 

“We’re very proud to launch our first own-brand infant formula range in partnership with Kerry Dairy Ireland. Lidl is committed to offering accessible, high-quality products, and this new range ensures that parents have more choice at affordable prices, supporting their feeding routines, ” Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Ireland, said. 

This partnership is part of Lidl Ireland’s broader strategy to strengthen its relationships with local suppliers and support the Irish agri-food sector. 

In 2023, Lidl Ireland’s Supplier & Business Partner Impact Report revealed that the retailer procured over €1.6 billion worth of goods and services from Irish suppliers. 

Of this, €1.1 billion came from the Irish agri-food industry, with €800 million remaining within Lidl Ireland’s operations and an additional €300 million worth of goods being exported internationally through Lidl’s global network of stores. 

This partnership has allowed Irish produce, including dairy products, to reach international markets, showcasing the best of Irish innovation on the global stage.

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