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Joe Manning, commercial director, Tesco Ireland addressing the guests

Joe Manning, commercial director, Tesco Ireland recently caught up with Donna Ahern to discuss how the retailer supports the growth of homegrown businesses

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Tesco Ireland recently held its Supplier Conference 2025 which was hosted by Joe Manning, commercial director, Tesco Ireland.

In his role with Tesco Ireland, Manning is responsible for ensuring the integrated commercial success of the business in Ireland. Manning joined Tesco in 2014 as ambient category director, before assuming the role of fresh director in April 2017. Manning was then appointed commercial director in 2018. In addition to the commercial strategy, he oversees Sourcing and Food Waste elements of Tesco’s ESG strategy, supplier relationships and its support of Irish agribusiness. Tesco Ireland is known in the industry for championing Irish suppliers, consistently prioritising locally sourced products and supporting the growth of homegrown businesses through long-term partnerships and investment in the Irish agri-food sector.

Q: Tesco has once again been named the retailer of choice for Irish suppliers for the ninth consecutive year – a huge achievement. What do you believe has contributed to this achievement?

A: We recognise the many extraordinary Irish suppliers that can be found right across Ireland and have forged strong relationships with over 500 of them to ensure that we can offer our customers the very best quality Irish food and drink.

Partnership is key to these relationships, building on mutual respect and trust, and a shared vision to bring amazing products to our customers.

Our buyers have long standing relationships with producers and growers, going back in some cases over 25 years, and work to support them through the good times and when things might be a little more challenging, like weather impacts, crises etc.

We have also partnered successfully with organisations such as Love Irish Food which aims to elevate great Irish food brands, helping to bridge the knowledge gap for those who wish to support local and Irish.

Q: As the world’s single biggest retail buyer of Irish food and drink, working with over 500 Irish suppliers, how is Tesco continuing to evolve its supplier relationships to support long-term collaboration and innovation across the grocery sector?

A: We are incredibly proud to say we are the single biggest retail buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, which is testament to the quality and innovation of the food sector in Ireland.

Forging multi-year partnerships with suppliers is important to us as it offers stability for our partners and gives customers confidence that the products they love will be on our shelves, which is a win: win.

We continuously develop our existing supplier partnerships by sharing market insights and supporting the introduction of innovative products to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Through Dunnhumby, our suppliers have access to comprehensive market insights and cutting-edge tools to develop market reach.

In addition, we are always on the lookout for promising new suppliers whose onboarding into Tesco is supported by our dedicated supplier development team.

We work hard to maintain the strong partnerships that we have built with our suppliers and are always looking at new ways to help them innovate and grow.

Some of the ways we collaborate with them are through new product design, instore activations, promoting their brands through Clubcard offers, using customer insights and offering expertise from within Tesco’s technical teams to assist producers/suppliers who are looking to expand.

Q: With online shopping and convenience formats playing an increasingly important role in Irish retail, what opportunities do you see for suppliers in these fast-moving channels?

A: We are really encouraged by the growth and momentum that we are seeing in our online business, and we’ve seen a strong period of growth coming out of the pandemic as customer shopping patterns changed.

We’ve built a very successful online business served by market leading technology, market leading capacity, and through launching new propositions to meet the evolving needs of the online customer, including Whoosh, our new rapid delivery service.

Research tells us that Irish consumers are increasingly relying on digital tools to do their grocery shopping, so it is imperative that suppliers are agile and ready to capitalise on the opportunities for growth in this area.

Suppliers that focus on how their brand appears on the digital shelf edge have a much better chance of doing well online. High quality product images and optimised product descriptions can make their products stand out. Harnessing the power of retail media will be crucial for them too.  Suppliers should consider if they are well positioned to disrupt and ensure their products end up in our customers favourites.

Convenience is an important format for Tesco with our Express store numbers having grown by almost 30% over the past two years. Our Express stores are uniquely set up to meet the convenience needs of both on-the go and regular shoppers. Suppliers that understand the opportunity for how their products could add value to our express ranges; trade planning and seasonal events will find themselves best placed to compete and do well in this space.

Q: Tesco’s leadership in climate action was also highlighted at the conference. How are you working with suppliers to drive progress on shared sustainability goals, and what’s next on the climate and environmental agenda?

A: We recognise that climate change is the biggest environmental threat the world faces, and that we must act collaboratively with our supply base to mitigate our impact.

We have set a clear target to be a net zero business by 2035, and to cut emissions to zero by 2050, including those generated by the products we sell and across our supply chains.

We collaborate closely with our suppliers to minimize the environmental impact of the products we sell, tackling issues like packaging, food waste, raw material sourcing and much more.

We encourage and support our suppliers to measure, report and reduce their food waste as part of our work to halve food waste in our supply chain by 2030.

We also support a number of certification schemes to ensure that certain products are produced with a focus on environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and social responsibility.

We also recognise that the sustainability journey for our suppliers is a challenging one and becomes more difficult for SMEs that may not have the internal resources needed to take action. Our teams are working closely with our suppliers to share knowledge and expertise on sustainability and support them as best we can through this transition.

Q: Diversity, equality, and inclusion (DE&I) were also important themes during the conference. How does DE&I contribute to Tesco’s broader business strategy, and in what ways can suppliers support or engage with these initiatives?

Inclusion is vital to how we work. By valuing individuality and uniqueness, we create a sense of belonging and – simply put – we believe diverse teams make better decisions and create greater value.

Our goal is to build a workplace of equal opportunity; developing a diverse team that represents our evolving communities and a company culture that builds self-esteem and celebrates our colleagues’ unique individualities.

This also reflects in how we do business, partnering with brands that create products that best serve the diverse tapestry of modern Ireland.

Tesco Supplier Conference 2025 winners

Danone wins ‘Chilled & Dairy Supplier of the Year 2025’

Pictured Chilled & Dairy supplier of the year, Danone, Nutricia Ireland, with Tesco Ireland commercial director Joe Manning

Danone being named Tesco Ireland’s Chilled & Dairy Supplier of the Year is a proud moment and a meaningful recognition of the dedication and effort our teams have put into the dairy category. This award highlights our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality products that meet the needs of today’s consumers, particularly in areas such as health and nutrition.

Over the past year, we have focused on developing new and improved dairy offerings, across our wide range of brands including the #1 yoghurt brand Activia as well as Actimel and GetPro, that offer functional support in terms of gut health¹ and protein², for Irish consumers. This reflects Danone’s desire to be a trusted choice for families and individuals looking for healthier options that don’t compromise on taste.

Winning this award from Tesco, one of Ireland’s leading retailers, shows the strength of the partnership between our two companies and the impact of our shared goals. It acknowledges not only the quality of Danone’s products but also the care and attention that goes into every step of the process — from innovation to execution.

For Danone, this recognition is more than just a title; it is a moment to celebrate the teams behind the scenes who work every day to make a difference in the lives of consumers. Being honoured by Tesco reinforces Danone’s position as a leader in the dairy sector and motivates us to continue pushing for excellence in the future.

Danone team

¹Activia contains calcium which contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes. Enjoy as part of healthy diet & balanced lifestyle.

²Protein contributes to the maintenance and growth of muscle mass.

Unilever Ireland wins ‘Household, Health & Beauty Supplier of the Year 2025′

Pictured Household, Health & Beauty Supplier of the Year, Unilever with Tesco Ireland Commercial Director Joe Manning

Unilever Ireland is honoured to receive this recognition from Tesco. This award is a testament to the strong partnership and collaboration we have built together over the years.
At the core of our relationship is a shared commitment to delivering joint value for the Tesco shopper. We are proud to work alongside a partner that is transparent about its goals and ambitions—this openness has enabled us to align our efforts and innovate in new and exciting ways.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership and to finding even more impactful ways to serve Tesco customers in the future.

Unilever Ireland team

JDE Peet’s Ireland wins ‘Supplier of the Year 2025′

Supplier of the Year 2025 JDE Peet’s Ireland with 2025 from Tesco Ireland commercial director, Joe Manning

We are very proud of being awarded Supplier of the Year for the grocery ambient category by Tesco Ireland for 2024/25. This pride stems from the fact that Tesco are a key customer of ours and they are recognising our efforts in creating value for them and for their shoppers.

Simplicity is one of our key values and we in JDE Peet’s have worked hard at becoming simple to do business with and this has served us well. Accountability is another of our values and we have focussed on doing the basics right such as delivering orders on time and in full. We worked collaboratively with a cross-functional Tesco team to execute an ambitious joint business plan, and this served as a compass through the past year that led to impressive value creation. We are delighted that the high percentage of Irish consumers that are coffee lovers continue to enjoy Kenco, L’OR, Maxwell House and Tassimo and we are appreciative to Tesco for the role they play in enabling this.

Ciarán Mollahan, managing director, JDE Peet’s Ireland

Mondelēz wins ‘Convenience Supplier of the Year 2025′

Pictured Convenience Supplier of the Year, Mondelēz, with Tesco Ireland commercial director Joe Manning

The entire Mondelēz team were delighted to receive the Convenience Supplier of the Year Award from Tesco Ireland. Winning three supplier awards over the past five years demonstrates the mutual trust between Tesco and Mondelēz and determination to keep delivering sustainable growth year after year. Relationship is key to a successful partnership, and we value our close relationship with the entire team in Tesco. From commercial to insights, marketing, activation to logistics each team member is key to a successful partnership. There are far too many people to call out!

Over the past few years, we have worked with Tesco on key projects to excite shoppers either in store or online, from instore activations to front of store display solutions in Tesco express. Each day we work closely with a dedicated confectionery team in Tesco lead by Mark O’Brien who constantly raises the bar in standards and performance. Delivering for the shopper needs is essential and is always top of the agenda for both sides.

A big thank you to everyone in Tesco Ireland for your continued support. It is truly valued.

Many thanks for awarding Mondelēz Convenience supplier of the year for 2025. Looking forward to working with you in the future and exciting shoppers a little more every day.

Mondelēz Ireland team

Country Crest wins ‘Produce Supplier of the Year 2025’

Pictured Produce Supplier of the Year, Country Crest, with Tesco Ireland commercial director Joe Manning

We were thrilled to be awarded ‘Produce Supplier of the Year 2025’ at the recent Tesco Ireland Supplier Conference. The conference provides a great opportunity to meet with the Tesco team and their 700 plus suppliers, sharing ideas and discussing how we can continue to deliver an exciting range of products to customers across Ireland. The awards are one of the highlights of the day, and receiving this recognition was a proud and memorable moment for our team.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Tesco Ireland team who we work closely with throughout the year to ensure that a full range of high-quality potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes reaches Tesco shelves nationwide.

We’re incredibly proud of our entire team. This award is a testament to the dedication of every employee across our company – and our growers – who all work tirelessly to grow, source, and deliver the very best produce for Tesco’s customers, particularly after what has been a very challenging season.

We’re honoured to have received this award from Tesco Ireland in recognition of our commitment to growing and delivering the best quality fresh produce possible. Tesco is the single largest retail buyer of Irish food and drink globally, and we’re proud to have partnered with them for over 28 years. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship and to Country Crest continuing our long tradition of producing quality fresh produce whilst remaining at the forefront of innovation and sustainable food production.

Gabriel Hoey, co-owner, Country Crest

Britvic Ireland wins ‘Love Irish Food Supplier of The Year 2025’

Pictured at the awards with Tesco Ireland commercial director Joe Manning are Alan Lambe, national account manager and Eoin Nevin, head of grocery sales

Britvic Ireland, part of the Carlsberg Group, was proud to win the 2025 Love Irish Food Supplier of the Year Award.

With a proud heritage which can be traced back 229 years to the invention of soda water by founder Augustus Thwaites in Trinity College, Britvic Ireland champions an innovative mindset resulting in the development of an iconic portfolio of Irish brands including Club Orange, Miwadi, Ballygowan, TK, Cidona and Energise.

A founding member of Love Irish Food and proudly committed to local production, today Britvic Ireland is the largest soft drinks manufacturer in the Republic of Ireland employing >480 people.  85% of sold products are bottled locally across two production sites in Dublin and Newcastlewest, Co Limerick.  The sustainability of this supply model is supported by sustainability credentials including 10 years as a certified member of Origin Green.

Local production is supported by a full support model including R&D which allows Britvic Ireland to develop drinks capitalising on the best of Irish natural resources such as Ballygowan Natural Mineral Water and tailored to local tastes resulting in successes such as Ballygowan Hint of Fruit which reached #1 Share of the flavoured water market within 3 years of launch.

Britvic team

Donegal Catch wins Retail Media Activation 2025

Retail Media Activation, Green Isle – The Fish Week, with Joe Manning, commercial director, Tesco Ireland

We were proud to share that our National Fish Week campaign has been honoured with the Retail Media Activation Award at the Tesco Annual Supplier Conference. This award is a testament to the outstanding collaboration, creativity, and execution by all teams involved.

Guided by the insight that shoppers are increasingly seeking inspiration in the frozen food aisle, we identified a timely opportunity to establish a new “meal for tonight” occasion. The campaign championed the enduring appeal of Fish and Chips — a familiar favourite with broad appeal — as a convenient and delicious dinnertime solution.

Our challenge was to bring this idea to life through a campaign that was not only visually compelling but also motivating for shoppers, to drive category growth.

The result was a fully integrated, omni-channel activation that spanned, in-store execution, featuring bespoke point-of-sale kits that brought the campaign to life at shelf, digital amplification across Tesco and Donegal Catch’s social media and digital platforms and tactical in-store sampling, which encouraged trial and drove immediate engagement.

This cohesive, multi-touchpoint strategy resonated with shoppers, successfully engaging new customers while increasing purchase frequency and basket size among existing ones. By aligning brand storytelling with shopper behaviour, we delivered measurable growth for both Donegal Catch and the wider frozen fish category. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and grateful for the strong partnership with Tesco and the tireless efforts of everyone who contributed to making National Fish Week a standout activation.

Donegal Catch team

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