Tesco Ireland has announced it has activated its partnership with Love Irish Food (LIF).
On 21 July, 2021 Love Irish Food (LIF) first announced the new partnership with Tesco Ireland to grow awareness of Love Irish Food member products in Tesco’s 151 stores nationwide.
Tesco Ireland is the first retailer to sign up to the new retail membership platform, developed by Love Irish Food.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Love Irish Food said it is exclusively focused on the food and drink sector and aims to promote and develop the future of branded food and drink production in Ireland.
Partnering with Tesco Ireland will involve in-store activations to help shoppers identify LIF member brand products, helping to bridge the knowledge gap for those who wish to support local and Irish, the group said.
Commenting on the new retail partnership with Tesco Ireland, Kieran Rumley, executive director, Love Irish Food, said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with Tesco, the first retailer to join with Love Irish Food in actively supporting shoppers to easily identify Irish produced food and drinks brands in store, and in doing so helping shoppers make informed decisions about buying local and Irish."
"This partnership will be of significant benefit to Love Irish Food members as they develop and scale their businesses," he added.
Supplier Development Opportunities
In addition, LIF highlighted that the partnership will include supplier development opportunities.
Through enhanced engagement with Tesco Ireland, small and medium sized LIF member brands will benefit from additional supports.
These food and drink companies will have access to advice from the leading retailer’s buying team, as well as opportunities to network and engage through buyer-supplier forums.
Joe Manning, commercial director Tesco Ireland said, "Working with over 490 Irish suppliers and supporting almost 14,000 farming families nationwide, Irish food and drink is at the heart of the Tesco Ireland business."
"We proudly retail over 70% of the Love Irish Food member products and are delighted to come on board as their first retail partner," he said.
The new LIF retail membership category is open to all retailers operating in the Republic of Ireland.
LIF has a broad spectrum of over 60 food and drink companies that employ in excess of 12,000 directly and indirectly in the food industry, producing great Irish food and drink brands and supporting jobs in local communities throughout the country.
Rumley stated, “As the Irish economy emerges from a period of great challenge, Love Irish Food members will play their part with the food and drink industry in rebuilding the economy.
"The new Love Irish Food Retail Partnership platform will facilitate greater retailer support and allow shoppers make informed decisions in supporting local food brands,” he concluded.
2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more retail news click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
