Tesco Ireland has announced that it has signed a new €2.5 million deal with McCann Orchards.
To date, over 100,000 apple and pear trees – including those producing Gala and Golden Delicious apples, and Conference and QTee pears – have been planted at Tullyallen Orchard.
The retailer has forecasted that approximately three and a half million apples and pears will be grown at the Armagh-based orchard over the forthcoming months.
John Brennan, fresh category director, Tesco Ireland, said, “As we celebrate 25 years in Ireland, it’s exciting to announce new innovation with one of our long-standing suppliers, McCann Orchards.
“This is a positive development for Tesco, as we seek new, more sustainable ways to deliver for the customer. The ‘modern orchard’ model is a great example of being able to successfully transition to home-grown versions of our much-loved apple and pear varieties.
“The innovative growing technique adopted by the McCann family means we can reduce our reliance on imported produce, resulting in less air miles and carbon emissions over the coming years, and, most importantly, we are once again bolstering our support for quality Irish food suppliers. It’s a win-win for all concerned, and we are very excited to introduce this new, quality product for our customers.”
Oliver McCann, MD, McCann Orchards, added, “The strength of our relationship with Tesco has helped us move this project forward and give us the confidence to invest in new and innovative ways to grow and harvest our produce. We’re looking forward to delivering these tasty apples and pears to Tesco customers.”
‘Building A Better Future For Irish Apples’
In 2021, Bord Bia commissioned a trade and consumer research project, ‘Building A Better Future For Irish Apples,’ to assist industry stakeholders on how best to maximise the opportunity for locally grown, sustainable apples in Ireland.
Lorcan Bourke, sector manager, fresh produce and potatoes, Bord Bia, commented, “At the heart of our market research project was an ambition to help grow the opportunities for Irish apples in the Ireland retail market.
“The launch of McCann’s Boyne Valley-based orchard is a wonderful example of seeing our market recommendations come to life.”
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more fresh news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
