Cork-based food chain supply firm Kwayga is helping to bring Ukrainian products to Lidl supermarket shelves across the country as part of the retailer’s Eastern European Week launching today, August 29.
The new project was designed to help Ukrainian food and drink producers either begin or re-establish their export activities, with a strategic emphasis on developing sustainable international buyer connections to market and sell their products globally.
Headquartered in Cork, Kwayga.com enables supermarket buyers to cut their sourcing times using supplier sourcing technology.
The company, which was founded in 2021 by Mike McGrath and Martin Fitzgerald, is using AI technology to source hundreds of Ukrainian suppliers who were part of the program. As a result, several new contracts were secured between Lidl and various food suppliers, leading to 25 Ukrainian products becoming available on Lidl Ireland shelves.
“We are very proud to have been a part of this important project and delighted to see how Kwayga’s AI-driven technology has played a role in connecting Lidl with Ukrainian food producers,” said Mike McGrath, CEO of Kwayga.
“This initiative not only showcases the strength of Ukrainian products but also highlights the importance of global cooperation in sustaining economies and communities during challenging times.”
The initiative is a result of the “European Shelves for Ukrainian Producers” project, a collaboration between Kwayga and USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA).
USAID ERA Chief of Party Tim Madigan commented on the project’s impact: “This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships can create meaningful economic opportunities for Ukrainian producers.
“By working with Kwayga, we were able to connect these businesses with new markets, helping them not only recover but also to establish a sustainable presence in the global food industry.”
Last year, Kwayga successfully closed a funding round, with a €1m investment in the company, led by The Redesdale Food & Beverage Fund, with the funding being used to scale their operations and team.