Lidl Northern Ireland has awarded Newtownards fresh food producer Willowbrook Foods an expanded supply deal worth £11 million. The deal is nearly double its previous contract. The company will supply 25 new lines of fresh convenience foods across its network of 210 stores throughout Ireland. Willowbrook is Ireland's largest salad and vegetable processing company and has been supplying Lidl NI with premium bagged salads and fresh deli products since 2011.
The new contract represents an 83 per cent boost on last year, taking the former £6 million annual contract to £11 million, and will see 25 new product lines introduced across its premium range of ready meals, stir fry and deli salads.
Enya Rooney, senior buyer at Lidl Northern Ireland, said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Willowbrook Foods and over the years have seen the company enjoy exponential growth."
"Willowbrook Foods is continually innovating to introduce new lines in response to changing consumer demand. We’ve seen a real increase in demand for our fresh convenience foods range and we’re excited to now launch an expanded line of great tasting, home-grown salads, cold deli foods and stir fry meals to thousands of customers across the island of Ireland.”
It is quoted John McCann, founder and chief executive of Willowbrook Foods, as saying: “Since our early days we have been a leader in providing premium prepared fresh vegetables and salads, cooked and ready to cook products. Over the last 50 years we've focused on mastering our craft of growing the highest quality, great tasting vegetables and continually developing our product offering.”
