Lidl Ireland announces Michelin-starred chef Eric Matthews as official new chef ambassador
Retailer joins forces with culinary icon to deliver Deluxe restaurant-quality freshness, premium local produce and unbeatable value straight to Irish homes
Print29 June 2026
Lidl Ireland has officially announced a major new partnership with renowned Michelin-starred Irish chef Eric Matthews, naming him the retailer’s official chef ambassador.
Famed for his exceptional work at some of the country’s most exciting restaurants, including Kicky’s and BANG restaurants in Dublin, chef Eric is teaming up with Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket retailer to showcase how shoppers can achieve premium, restaurant-quality food at home for less.
The collaboration will see chef Eric showcase the exceptional quality of Lidl’s everyday grocery range, with a particular emphasis on its award-winning Deluxe products.
Meeting Michelin standards
By aligning with one of Ireland’s top culinary talents, Lidl is demonstrating that its fresh, seasonal and premium ingredients easily meet strict Michelin-star standards.
Through the partnership, the retailer aims to bring ‘More to Value’ directly to Irish households, with Chef Eric delivering exclusive recipe ideas, kitchen hacks and practical tips.
Commenting on the announcement, Lidl Ireland chef ambassador Eric Matthews said: “I am proud to partner with Lidl Ireland as their official chef ambassador.
“Since I’ve started working with Lidl Ireland I’ve been incredibly impressed at the quality of their produce, particularly within the premium Deluxe range, and the huge focus Lidl puts on sourcing Irish produce from local suppliers.
“My culinary philosophy has always been rooted in seasonality, freshness, and a passion for supporting the Irish agri-food industry so, for me, the synergy was there right from the beginning.
“I’m also blown away at their quality standards – with rigorous weekly product testing of their steak to ensure every batch is up to scratch, or the daily fresh produce inspections they carry out in-store to guarantee quality across their fruit and veg range, their commitment to providing shoppers with the very best produce is unmatched.
“After spending a lot of time trying out the range, I’m amazed at the value shoppers can get from Lidl.
“Accessible, budget friendly and backed by quality, I’m delighted to partner with Lidl Ireland and I look forward to sharing my passion, recipes, and tips to help Lidl customers get that restaurant-quality experience out of their everyday cooking.”
Robert Ryan, chief executive officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted to welcome chef Eric Matthews to the Lidl family.
“It’s great to have the backing of a Michelin-starred chef partnering with our brand and we’re delighted to work with such an exciting chef that has really carved a name for himself within the industry.
“Eric is behind some of the most exciting restaurant launches in recent years and, with long waiting lists to secure a seat at his table, we’re thrilled to have him on board as our chef ambassador.
“Having met with Eric and heard firsthand about his passion for seasonal freshness and local Irish producers, we knew he was the perfect fit for our brand.
“His approach to his food and restaurants is one of quality, innovation and freshness, placing the customer at the heart of the experience and that very much aligns with our customer-first approach at Lidl.
“This partnership perfectly delivers on our commitment to bring ‘More to Value’ to our customers by proving that restaurant-quality meals can be achieved on any budget.
“With our award-winning Deluxe range and our proud variety of homegrown fresh produce, chef Eric will educate, inspire, and empower our customers to enjoy a new taste experience with Lidl.”
Lidl’s focus on exceptional quality is backed by a consistent track record of industry accolades.
This includes a standout performance at the Great Taste Awards 2025, where Lidl secured 97 product awards and an unprecedented five 3-star accolades.
Notably, the Deluxe range led the way as the most awarded brand in Ireland during the 2025 awards.
Adding to these credentials, the Deluxe brand was also named Own-Label Range of the Year at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2025, alongside titles for Christmas Retailer of the Year and Christmas Product of the Year.
Lidl’s emphasis on premium standards carries across its entire fresh offering, down to its beef selection which includes the recipient of the prestigious World’s Best Steak award from the World Steak Challenge 2025.
Lidl Ireland remains a proud champion of local suppliers, prioritising the very best in regional agri-food.
In 2026, Lidl announced that its annual procurement spending with local Irish businesses has officially broken the €2 billion milestone, which includes over €1.4 billion procured directly from the Irish agri-food sector.
Alongside its established supplier network, Lidl’s long-term commitment to grass-roots Irish enterprise is showcased through its industry-leading Lidl Kickstart Supplier Development Programme.
Celebrating its landmark 10th anniversary in 2026, the Bord Bia-backed initiative has seen Lidl invest more than €42 million to support over 300 small-scale, domestic food and drink producers to date, helping emerging home-grown brands scale sustainably and secure permanent retail space on Lidl shelves.
This shared commitment to championing Irish producers will take centre stage throughout the partnership.
By pairing chef Eric’s world-class expertise with Lidl’s award-winning Deluxe and everyday range, the collaboration will redefine home dining for shoppers nationwide, proving that exceptional local freshness and market-leading value go hand in hand.
For more information visit: www.lidl.ie.
Read more: Lidl Ireland launches Heart of Gold campaign as survey highlights pressure facing family carers
© 2026, ShelfLife by Ryan Brennan
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