Five Food Academy producers to be showcased in SuperValu stores nationwide
SuperValu Food Academy sales grew by 15% in 2020, with participants delivering €28m in retail sales
Print13 September 2021
Five local Irish food producers have been chosen from 290 Food Academy suppliers and will be showcased in SuperValu stores nationwide over a three-week period.
The producers are part of SuperValu’s Food Academy programme, that is run in conjunction with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise office.
From 23 September, each of the five producers will see their products on sale across 150 SuperValu stores around Ireland.
The five companies chosen for nationwide distribution include Blakes Always Organic from Co Leitrim; Little Thai Kitchen from Co Waterford; Feighery’s Farm from Co Tipperary; Hassetts Bakery Co. Cork and The Sweet Potato Pizza Company from Dublin.
“The products selected demonstrate the quality and range of choice that the food entrepreneurs of today are creating and delivering to shoppers across the country,” SuperValu said in a press statement.
The Food Academy programme currently supports 290 Irish food and drink producers, making their products available 52 weeks of the year in their local SuperValu stores. In 2020, there was a 15% growth in SuperValu Food Academy sales, with participants delivering €28m in retail sales.
“The Food Academy programme is designed to help small businesses through their journey from start-up, to getting their products on our shelves and growing into thriving businesses,” said Carmel Biggane, Food Academy manager, SuperValu.
“We believe in supporting local Irish food and drink producers and are incredibly proud to have helped so many local producers over the last eight years,” she added. “This nationwide distribution is a testament to the benefits of the Food Academy programme and the high standard of Irish producers the programme continues to support. We are really looking forward to bringing these fabulous tasting products to our customers in SuperValu’s around the country for a limited time period.”
“At SuperValu, we have always believed in supporting local producers,” added Ciara McClafferty, trading director, SuperValu.
“Great quality and taste is synonymous with this initiative and this is another opportunity to celebrate and elevate the best of Irish food and drink coming out of the Food Academy programme,” McClafferty said. “This distribution deal will give these producers access to stores around the country and provide an opportunity to promote their products to new customers nationwide.”
Now in its eighth year, Food Academy is a unique food business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Participants in the programme receive training in food safety, market research and branding, marketing, finance, sustainability and business development.
Related Articles
Guinness 0.0 surges 48% in response to growing demand →
Volume of retail sales up 1.7% in March 2024 →
Dunnes leads the way as Ireland’s top grocer →
Fans 0
Followers