Tesco showcases Irish suppliers at the National Ploughing Championships

Minster for Agriculture Simon Coveney with fresh food commercial director of Tesco Ireland, Malachy O'Connor in the Tesco Tent at the National Ploughling Championships

The retailer is also due to announce a major export deal for one of the local suppliers that has participated in the annual Tesco Bord Bia Supplier Development programme

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Tesco Ireland is at the 2014 National Ploughing Championships this week showcasing fresh and ‘in season’ produce from over 50 Irish suppliers.

Visitors to the marquee are being treated to cookery demonstrations with renowned chef Eugene McSweeney with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. There will also be opportunities to win a year’s free grocery shopping and the chance to win a trip for a family of four to the 2015 World Ploughing Championships.

Over 11,000 Irish farm families supply produce to Tesco and each year over €700 million worth of Irish food products are exported to Tesco worldwide. Tesco employs over 15,000 people across its network of 146 stores and 22 filling stations in Ireland.

Tesco is due to announce a major export deal for one of the local suppliers that has participated in the annual Tesco Bord Bia Supplier Development programme. 2014 marks the third year of the programme which has seen a total of 33 companies to date completing the programme and working to secure, grow and maintain a listing with Tesco. During this period, these companies recorded €16 million worth of sales to Tesco stores with over a quarter of this revenue generated in the UK. The Bord Bia / Tesco Supplier Development Programme runs over a seven-month period and incorporates Local, National and Export levels to support companies at varying stages in their development.

Later this week, Tesco will also unveil a new initiative to futher underpin the retailer’s commitment to reducing food waste following the recent announcements of partnerships with foodcloud and Bia Food Initiative (BiaFi).  Earlier this year, Tesco became the first retailer to commit to donating all its surplus food to local charities across Ireland through an innovative partnership with foodcloud.  Founded by two young social entrepreneurs, Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, foodcloud connects businesses with surplus food to community groups and charities through the use of an innovative app.

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