SuperValu, Ireland’s leading independent food retailer has today announced that its Christmas dinner sales will generate over €10m in sales of Irish produce.

In addition, 170 seasonal jobs have also been created by companies supplying SuperValu’s 100% Irish Christmas dinner including; turkey, ham, potato, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and plum pudding suppliers. These companies include IGWT Poultry, Oliver Carty Ltd., K&K Packs Ltd, Wilson’s Country Potatoes, Folláin and Seery’s.

With shoppers more conscious than ever of supporting Irish companies and Irish jobs, SuperValu is stocking even larger amounts of Irish produce to meet demand. SuperValu estimates that it will take five trucks to deliver its 230 tonnes of Irish Brussels sprouts for the Christmas dinner. Over 650,000 bags of Irish potatoes will be purchased and over half a million kilos of Irish carrots – enough to cover a round-trip from Dublin to Cork – will be sold.

Commenting on SuperValu’s Irish Christmas sales, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu said, “Now more than ever before, it is vital to support our Irish suppliers and producers. Consumers are choosing Irish and SuperValu is responding. By buying Irish products this year in SuperValu, consumers will help to create 170 additional jobs in Ireland and over €10 million in retail sales for Irish suppliers.

We are proud of our support of Irish goods, and to be in a position to offer local, home-grown produce to our shoppers in our 195 stores nationwide. This Christmas, 100% of the traditional Christmas dinner ingredients at SuperValu will be sourced or produced in Ireland. Christmas dinner is many people’s favourite meal of the year, and opting for Irish ingredients this year will make this great family occasion even tastier.”

SuperValu is Ireland’s leading independent food retailer and the only retailer with a store in each county. SuperValu’s commitment to Irish based producers includes sales of over €1 billion worth of fresh Irish food every year. In 2010 the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.6 billion to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector.

SuperValu has announced that from today, it will stock a new premium brand of free-range Farmers to Market Irish chicken with an estimated value of €1.3million in retail sales.

Farmers to Market comes from a partnership between Manor Farm Chicken processors (Carton Brothers) and twelve free-range chicken farmers from counties Cavan and Monaghan. The partnership incorporates chicken houses, feed and ventilation systems designed to ensure the highest standard of animal welfare, guaranteeing a consistent quality and superior taste produced in an environmentally friendly way. It is the first partnership of its kind in the Irish chicken industry.

Just last week, Farmers to Market were successful at the SuperValu Irish Food Producers Awards 2011 winning the Best Newcomer Category. SuperValu is committed to stocking only 100% Irish-produced poultry that contains the Bord Bia quality mark. The Farmers to Market free-range chicken range, which is available in all SuperValu stores nationwide, further enhances this commitment.

Martin Kelleher Managing Director SuperValu said, “SuperValu guarantees the provenance of all our poultry, all of which is born bred and reared in Ireland. This Farmers to Market partnership further enhances that policy and also serves as a boost to the Irish chicken industry. A commitment to Irish suppliers is at the heart of SuperValu’s business and we are delighted to support this initiative.”

He continued, “We are the only retailer to stock 100% Irish meat and poultry and our poultry sales alone were worth €65 million in 2010.  Similar to a number of other initiatives such as our Supplier Development programme, we are delighted to assist small suppliers get their products onto shop shelves.”

Charles Smith of Farmers to Market said, “Farmers to Market is thrilled to have our products stocked on the shelves of one of Ireland’s leading retailers, Supervalu. To grow from a small industry in Cavan and Monaghan, to receiving the support of SuperValu is a great achievement. We are delighted that our products will reach such a wide audience, throughout SuperValu’s network.”

SuperValu is Ireland’s leading independent food retailer and the only retailer with a store in each county. SuperValu’s commitment to Irish based producers includes sales of over €1 billion worth of fresh Irish food every year. In 2010 the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.6bn to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector.

Seven food and beverage companies have been awarded accolades in the SuperValu Irish Food Producers 2011, in association with Enterprise Ireland.  The Awards, which took place in Dublin, recognise excellence, quality and innovation within the food and beverage sector in Ireland. From hundreds of entries, six winning category entries were chosen and the Irish Food Producer of the Year 2011 was named.

Westmeath Company Oliver Carty Ltd, which supplies pork products to SuperValu nationwide, was named the overall Irish Food Producer of the Year. Oliver Carty Ltd was chosen for their considerable investment in new packaging technology, as well as the new and innovative products they have brought to the market this year.

Category winners included:

• Best Newcomer: Farmers to Market
• Best for Quality: Dunn’s of Dublin
• Best for Innovation: Oliver Carty Ltd.
• Best Fresh Product: Keeling’s Ltd.
• Best Local Producer: St. Tola Goat Cheese
• The People’s Choice: Barry’s Tea (Ireland’s favourite Irish brand)

Congratulating the winning companies, Martin Kelleher MD SuperValu said, “Ireland’s food and beverage sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous sector and is renowned as one of the best in the world. The SuperValu Irish Food Producer Awards are all about celebrating Irish companies who give this sector its deserving reputation. I want to congratulate Oliver Carty Ltd., all of the other winning companies and entrants in this year’s Award who work tirelessly all year round work to consistently deliver quality, fresh, local produce.”

“SuperValu is proud to support Irish suppliers and the Awards are an opportunity to celebrate them. 75% of everything stocked in SuperValu stores is sourced or produced in Ireland and all of our meat, fish and poultry is 100% Irish.”

“We look forward to continuing and developing new partnerships with Irish suppliers in the year ahead at SuperValu, to help ensure that our food and beverage sector in Ireland continues to thrive and that customers have their choice of fresh, Irish products in all of our stores.”

The Irish Food Producers Awards are a further example of SuperValu’s commitment to Irish suppliers and producers which includes sales of over €1 billion worth of fresh Irish food every year. In 2010 the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.6bn to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector.

Total SuperValu investment of €25 million creates 400 jobs in 2011

SuperValu has announced the opening of its new store in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, which was officially opened earlier today by the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD. The new store brings total investment in SuperValu stores to €25 million in 2011, which has created 400 jobs at locations nationwide including Dun Laoghaire, Mountmellick, Athy, Manorhamilton and Fermoy.

Officially opening the new store in Dun Laoghaire, Tánaiste Gilmore said, “I am delighted to open this new SuperValu store for a number of reasons. It is a good news story, not only for the 70 new employees and their families, particularly with Christmas around the corner, but also for the local community. They will now have greater choice in where they shop and greater access to Irish produce.

Dun Laoghaire, like towns throughout the country, has been hit hard by the recession. However I believe the opening of this store is a very positive sign that the local business community is fighting back and I warmly welcome that.”

The latest store to open in the SuperValu network is the new €1.6 million store in Dun Laoghaire, which is owned by the centre owners, with initial in-store set up and support being provided by Eddie Kane and Dan McCartney of the Kane McCartney group of SuperValu stores.

Its opening comes in the wake of an investment of €90 million by SuperValu in delivering price savings to Irish shoppers, reducing the price of the average weekly SuperValu shopping basket from €132 to €102, a saving of €30.

Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu, said, “This new store in Dun Laoghaire brings total investment in SuperValu stores nationwide to €25 million in 2011, which has created 400 jobs. SuperValu’s core business is at the heart of local communities, run by local businesspeople. We contribute to thriving town centres around the country, supporting local suppliers and creating local employment. We are backing Ireland. The new store in Dun Laoghaire is a great opportunity for SuperValu to continue that regional focus and I look forward to further expansion in the year ahead.”

Geoff Barry, Manager SuperValu Dun Laoghaire, said; “Our customers will be able to take advantage of the fresh food, value for money and excellent customer service that is synonymous with SuperValu. We place a strong emphasis on supporting Irish suppliers and stocking Irish-made produce, with 75% of all goods available in the store either produced or sourced in Ireland. Additionally, the store will sell only 100% Irish meat and poultry, which has been born, bred and reared in Ireland.”

The store will boast a superb fresh food offering, which includes an expert butchery department, an excellent fresh fruit and vegetable selection and a range of exclusive breads from its own in-store bakery department. A full off-licence will also offer a wide range of world wines, beers and spirits.

SuperValu is Ireland’s leading independent food retailer and the only retailer with a store in each county. SuperValu’s commitment to Irish based producers includes sales of over €1 billion worth of fresh Irish food every year. In 2010 the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.6billion to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector. 75% of everything in SuperValu is either produced or sourced in Ireland and it is the only supermarket to stock 100% Irish meat including beef, pork, chicken, lamb, ham and bacon.