SuperValu has announced new contracts with 104 Irish suppliers, in a deal worth over €80 million, to support its growing own-brand portfolio. SuperValu made the announcement at the National Ploughing Championships, held in New Ross last month. Among the companies announced as suppliers are egg producer Clonarn Clover, Clada Minerals from Galway, Arthur Mallon Foods, Silver Pail Dairy, Irish Yoghurts, Riverview Eggs and Donegal Creameries.
Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, managing director of SuperValu, said: "The simple, but important point for the Irish economy is that buying local products in locally owned businesses keeps money circulating closer to where you spend it. This creates a ripple effect, as those businesses and their employees in turn spend in the community.”
The SuperValu announcement coincided with the launch of a report by economist David McWillians' Economic Clinic, which revealed the contribution of SuperValu store owners investment in local communities. It found that on top of the €1.6 billion worth of Irish product purchased centrally by the group, its retailers spent €75 million on products sourced from suppliers within their own local communities last year.
Picture shows An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD stopping in at the Supervalu tent at the National Ploughing Championships to sample an array of Irish products sold by the supermarket with (left) Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, (2nd from right) Teddy Carty, of Oliver Carty LTD. and (right) Micheal Murphy Which was cooked by Supervalu’s very own Celebrity Chef Kevin Dundon.
