Laois business may benefit from huge ALDI deal

Aldi has signed a new contract with Dawn Meats which could benefit Laois where the meat processor has a big plant in Rathdowney.

A joint statement said Dawn Meats will recruit 15 new staff members and add six new lines to the ALDI range under the terms of the deal which also sees Dawn Meats increase their supply to Aldi by 35%.

The agreement announced on June 17 involves a new €125 million contract worth €25 million annually over the next five years.

Dawn Meats is one of the supermarket chain’s longest-standing suppliers, having supplied since 2010. The Waterford-based firm has seen incremental growth every year for a decade.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD said: “I welcome this announcement by ALDI of their continued commitment to Irish suppliers and their support for producers around the country. This €125 million announcement with Dawn Meats is an indication of the scale of ALDI’s commitment to the Irish beef sector and is an endorsement of the quality of beef produced by Irish farmers every day.”

Commenting on the announcement today, Niall Browne, Dawn Meats CEO said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with ALDI for this significant contract. For over 10 years now, we have been proud to be involved with ALDI Ireland’s success story providing an increasing range of consistent quality and sustainably sourced meat products.

“We look forward to continue developing, growing and innovating with ALDI, building on our long-standing successful relationship,” he said.

Colin Breslin, Managing Director of Buying and Services, ALDI Ireland said: “ALDI is deeply committed to supporting our Irish suppliers. This year, we are marking 25 years of operations in Ireland. Our recent economic impact report revealed that since we first opened in 1999, ALDI has spent more than €10 billion with Irish suppliers, demonstrating the scale of our commitment to Ireland. Today, we’re proud to work with more than 330 Irish suppliers and continue to provide high quality products and unbeatable value to all our customers.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with Dawn Meats, a company that shares our commitment to quality and sustainability. This continued partnership ensures that our customers can enjoy the best Irish beef, sourced sustainably, and produced to the highest standards,” he said.

The Rathdowney plant is one of 11 Dawn sites in Ireland.