SuperValu is gearing up to sell almost 2,000 tonnes of locally sourced vegetables over the festive period, amid surging demand for vegetarian and vegan Irish Christmas dinner essentials such as brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips and potatoes.
The retailer is expecting an increased interest in Irish food this Christmas, with shoppers keen to support local producers and suppliers. This support for local, coupled with a spike in demand for vegetarian and vegan alternatives, means that SuperValu believes it will sell just under 1,900 tonnes of Irish vegetables alone over the festive period – the same weight as 20 NASA space shuttles combined.
Festive Favourite
The brussels sprout, Ireland’s perennial dinner-table festive favourite, is centre stage this festive season, with consumer demand reflected by the fact that SuperValu expects to sell 135 tonnes of brussels sprouts, supplied by Tralee grower Paudie Hanafin. Dublin’s K&K Produce is supplying that other great Irish dinner table favourite, the potato, to shoppers, selling almost 1,000 tonnes of fresh potatoes at SuperValu this festive season. K&K Produce will also be supplying 48 tonnes of the popular parsnip and carrot combination.
Award-Winning Leeks
Begley’s, who recently won a National Organic Award for their leeks, expect to supply 110,000 units over the festive period across their carrots, parsnips, fresh beetroot, kale, celery and leeks ranges, while Kilkenny’s O’Shea’s Farms are supplying 592 tonnes of carrots. SuperValu says that IGWT and Grove Farm Turkeys in Co Monaghan are supplying €2.5 million worth of 100% Irish, Bord Bia-approved Irish turkeys this Christmas. Oliver Carty Ltd, who are celebrating the 25th year of their trading partnership with SuperValu this year, will supply €2 million worth of Irish hams.
Signature Tastes Smoked Salmon
For an opening course option, the retailer says that it expects to sell €1.2 million worth of smoked salmon, which includes the SuperValu Signature Tastes range of smoked salmon supplied by Dublin’s Dunns Seafare. The range includes a number of varieties including Applewood Smoked Salmon, Dingle Gin Infused Smoked Salmon and a new range of Hot Smoked Salmon selections. SuperValu will also be selling an Irish salmon paté from Union Hall in West Cork, with their range including a Whiskey-Infused Smoked Salmon Paté.
Christmas Pudding & Cake
SuperValu is also showcasing some of Ireland’s finest bakery and dessert suppliers this Christmas including Carlow-based Seerys, who are supplying 160,000 Christmas puddings, and O’Hara’s Bakery from Mayo, who are supplying SuperValu’s Signature Tastes Round Christmas Cake. The SuperValu Signature Tastes Mini Bites are sourced from Carleton Bros from Cavan and this festive season also sees SuperValu introducing its Blas award-winning Signature Tastes Chocolate Yule Log from dessert-makers Couverture in Co Kildare.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Maev Martin. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
