Shellfish Ireland, the Cork-based seafood company, has secured a €500,000 contract with Lidl to supply the discount retailer with its brown crabs to over 800 Lidl stores in Spain and Portugal.
Lidl revealed that the deal was facilitated due to the two companies’ relationship with each other in Ireland.
Ryan Murphy, from Shellfish Ireland, said that the contract provides a great opportunity for the family-run business to spread its reach in the face of Brexit.
“The opportunity to export wild northeast Atlantic crab, or brown crab, to Lidl stores in Spain and Portugal is hugely exciting for us and will allow us to continue to support the local community, where we are one of the largest employers in the area,” Murphy said.
“It is fantastic also to see a large international retailer like Lidl show such confidence in Irish companies.”
Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Michael Creed, agreed that it is “heartening” to see a small family run company receive such recognition from a leading retailer such as Lidl.
“Irish food and drink has a stellar reputation abroad due to our clear focus on quality and sustainability standards,” the Minister explained.
“Deals such like this, which will see products from West Cork on shelves all over Spain and Portugal, are a welcome boost for small rural communities where it will help sustain employment and bolster the local economy.”
Lidl made the move as the company’s buyer for the Spanish region, Fernando Clemente, has moved to Lidl’s Dublin HQ on a full-time basis to negotiate international contracts directly with Irish suppliers.
Clemente said that Irish seafood is renowned all over Europe for its outstanding quality and taste, and that he is happy to offer Irish supplier new avenues into Europe.
“Last year alone, our Irish suppliers exported over €4 million worth of seafood and we are on track to reach €5 million this year due to the new relationship with Shellfish Ireland,” he explained.
“As a verified member of Origin Green and as a significant exporter of Irish food and drink we are committed to growing with our suppliers in a sustainable manner and in ways that will benefit both parties.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
