Hellbent Boerewors and The Popcorn Factory announced as winners of Grow with Aldi!

Two Northern Ireland-based artisan food & drink producers win a new contract with Aldi

Now in its third year, Grow with Aldi has invested over €2.5million in small and medium Irish suppliers

Co. Down’s Hellbent Boerewors and Co. Derry’s The Popcorn Factory were recently announced as two of  the six winners of this year’s Grow with Aldi Supplier Development Programme, whose products have been chosen to form part of the core range of products, and will launch in all 142 Aldi stores nationwide over the coming weeks and months.

Kin and Kind Ltd. (Hellbent) from Newtownards will supply Aldi Ireland with its Coiled South African Sausage (Boerewors) and The Popcorn Factory (Coleraine, Co. Derry) with its Candy Floss.

 Louis Ludik, Hellbent Boerewors Sausage (Newtonards, Co. Down) said, “We feel so very blessed to have been a part of the Grow with Aldi programme. We would like to thank Aldi for this incredible platform that gives so many local artisans an opportunity to share their craft. This has honestly been the most rewarding experience and the outpouring of support has been nothing short of amazing. We are so excited to be sharing the love of food, our heritage and culture with the people of Ireland and telling our story through our most loved products.”

Joel Dunlop, The Popcorn Factory (Coleraine, Co. Derry): “I was delighted to be chosen as one of the Grow with Aldi winners this year! Really excited to work with this amazing company & look forward to getting stuck in.”

The six winners were part of 45 suppliers that won a place on the programme earlier this year, which was developed in partnership with Bord Bia. The 45 suppliers produced over 75 products between them, which went onto the shelves in Aldi in at the end of May for 2 weeks.

Aldi has invested over €2.5 million in the Grow with Aldi programme since it began in 2018.

Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, Grow with Aldi supports small and medium sized Irish suppliers to gain exposure and experience with a major retailer in Ireland.  Suppliers receive tailored mentoring, workshops from the Aldi Buying Team and Bord Bia technical experts, teaching them the skills to help grow and develop their product, brand and business.

Commenting, John Curtin, Aldi Group Buying Director, said: “Now in its third year, Grow with Aldi has consistently delivered for everyone involved. Small and medium sized Irish suppliers get the opportunity to have their product sold nationally, shoppers get to enjoy the best Irish-made products being created and Aldi gets to work with even more Irish suppliers. We would like to congratulate the 6 winners of this year’s programme – they represent the very best of Ireland’s food industry and we are looking forward to seeing this products on shelves in all 142 Aldi stores nationwide. With all that has happened worldwide over the past few months, there couldn’t be a better time to be buying more Irish.”

 Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, said: “Now more than ever, buying Irish is hugely important. Grow with Aldi not only helps to meet that consumer demand for Irish products, but it also support small and medium Irish suppliers as they develop the skills and capabilities their businesses need in the current climate. Congratulations to all six winners.”

The six winners of this year’s Grow with Aldi Supplier Development Programme are from L-R above:

• Dromod Boxty (Dromod, Co. Leitrim)
• Saturday Pizzas (Little Island, Co. Cork)
• Hellbent Boerewors Sausage (Newtownards, Co. Down)
• The Popcorn Factory Candy Floss (Coleraine, Co. Derry)
• Prokulture Organic Kombucha (Sallins, Co. Kildare)
• The Piccolo Pizza Co. Pizza Sauce (Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow)