Lidl Northern Ireland has announced its\u00a0largest ever intake\u00a0of local food and drink producers to the retailers Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, giving 17 small and medium local suppliers the opportunity to supply their products to 229 Lidl stores on the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Kickstart Class of 2025\u2019 will enjoy a \u2018foot-up\u2019 as part of a six-month development programme which is backed by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA).<\/p>\n
Following a competitive pitch process to find the best and most innovative local products on the market, a place on the programme offers suppliers dedicated business support from Lidl\u2019s in-house experts, advancing their product, brand and business with practical guidance on how to scale production, drive production efficiency, as well as support around product development and packaging.<\/p>\n
Now in its eighth year, Lidl Northern Ireland has invested more than \u00a34 million in Kickstart, supporting 45 local agri-food producers and showcasing over 52 innovative home-grown products to half a million weekly customers in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Suppliers involved in this year\u2019s supplier development programme \u2013 who hope to see their products on shelves from September \u2013 include Ormeau Road gelato brand, Al Gelato; Lurgan based artisan bakery New Found Joy, who specialise in Gluten Free products; The Doggie Pawtisserie, who have reinvented treat time for four-legged family members; and Dukes Ultra-Premium Ice Cream, a farmhouse brand born out of lockdown\u00a0boredom.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the success of Kickstart to date and the exciting line-up of new locally produced products on the programme this year,\u00a0Kate O\u2019Driscoll, Supplier Development Manager at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland,<\/strong>said:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are delighted to announce our intake of suppliers on this year\u2019s Kickstart Development Programme. Kickstart is more than just a route to shelf \u2013 it\u2019s a springboard for growth, and this year\u2019s record intake in Northern Ireland is a testament to the talent, innovation, and quality coming from Northern Ireland\u2019s food and drink producers.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross a six-month development programme, our experts work hand-in-hand with each supplier to offer tailored mentoring on production, packaging, marketing and scaling \u2013 helping them unlock their potential and futureproof their business.<\/p>\n The suppliers have a really exciting range of products coming to Lidl stores this September including farmhouse ice cream, scotch eggs, sauces and ready meals. Some of the more unique items are\u00a0artisan dog treats; sleep pillow spray made using Irish lavender and a popular product amongst health-conscious customers ginger shots.\u201d<\/p>\n Commenting about previous suppliers\u2019 successes from the programme\u00a0Kate O\u2019Driscoll<\/strong>\u00a0added:<\/p>\n \u201cHellbent is a perfect example of what Kickstart is all about. Since securing a place on the programme just three years ago, they\u2019ve not only earned a permanent listing but have also tripled their Lidl contract value to over \u00a31 million. We\u2019re incredibly proud of their success \u2013 and excited to see what this year\u2019s cohort will achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n Founded by Ulster Rugby stars Louis Ludik and Schalk van der Merwe, Hellbent blends bold South African flavours with quality Irish and Northern Irish meat to create a standout range of spicy products, including their popular Chakalaka Boerewors.<\/p>\n Louis Ludik\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 who started the business with Ulster Rugby teammate Schalk in 2018 and took part in the programme in 2021 \u2013 commented\u00a0on the support they have received from Lidl:<\/p>\n \u201cJoining the Kickstart programme was truly transformative for Hellbent. As former rugby players stepping into the food industry, we had the passion and product but needed guidance on scaling a retail business. The mentorship from Lidl\u2019s team helped us refine everything from production processes to packaging and marketing strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat started as a small opportunity has grown beyond our expectations \u2013 securing a permanent listing and expanding into more than 800 Lidl stores across Ireland and the UK. The programme gave us not just shelf space, but the business knowledge to build a sustainable brand.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Bell OBE, Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner once again with Lidl Northern Ireland on Kickstart, this impactful programme, which opens doors for ambitious, local food and drink companies to access new markets, scale their operations and grow their brand on a national stage.<\/p>\n \u201cAs our largest manufacturing sector, food and drink plays a critical role in Northern Ireland\u2019s economy \u2013 supporting some 113,000 jobs across the supply chain and contributing \u00a38bn to the local economy.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations to all 17 successful candidates this year. Their success is a positive indicator of the strength and diversity of our industry, and we look forward to seeing their products hit the shelves in Lidl stores this September.\u201d<\/p>\n Demonstrating its commitment to supporting innovative local suppliers beyond the programme itself, Lidl Northern Ireland awarded a \u00a3200,000 contract to Kickstart alumni, Holmes Bakery in 2023. The award-winning Portadown based business expanded its 20-strong workforce by a further three employees following the deal with Lidl Northern Ireland, which added fifteens, caramel fingers to more than 40 Lidl stores across the region.<\/p>\n Lidl Northern Ireland\u2019s Kickstart programme is a key part of the retailer\u2019s broader commitment to supporting the local economy. In 2024, Lidl Northern Ireland procured more than half-a-billion pounds (\u00a3530 million) from local suppliers and business partners across Northern Ireland, according to latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s selected producers will embark on a tailored development journey before launching in Lidl Northern Ireland stores in September 2025.<\/p>\n