SuperValu, Ireland’s leading community retailer, has announced it will sell €25 million worth of Irish potatoes nationwide in 2013. The largest purchaser of Irish potatoes, SuperValu annually sources approximately 20,000 tonnes of potatoes from growers in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Louth, Kildare, Donegal, Carlow, Wicklow and Wexford.
Irish farmers are currently harvesting the first of the new season Irish potato crop, which are now available in all 197 SuperValu stores throughout the country.
Commenting on the announcement, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu said, “We are delighted to stock the first of this season’s new Irish potatoes in SuperValu. A staple for households across the country, we recognise that our customers demand the very best that Irish farmers have to offer. As the largest purchaser of Irish potatoes we are proud of our commitment to Irish farmers who play a central part of communities all across the country”.
“We source from growers all across the country to ensure we’re always in a position to offer the best in class in terms of quality Irish fresh food, especially local produce where our retailers directly source from suppliers in the community. In 2012 alone, SuperValu retailers spent €75 million directly with local suppliers, allowing them to offer their customers exceptional local fresh produce, which they cannot get anywhere else.”
“It is an internationally recognised fact that locally owned and operated businesses, like SuperValu, keep and circulate three times more money locally than those in international ownership. Together with our retailers, we will continue to deliver the best value, outstanding customer service, and the very best Irish fresh food offering in the country.”
During 2012, SuperValu invested €290 million in delivering value to today’s budget conscious shopper, while maintaining its policy of sourcing from Irish suppliers whenever possible.
SuperValu employs in excess of 12,000 people, with an annual payroll of over €213 million, making it one of the State’s largest employers. Locally owned and operated businesses, like SuperValu, keep and circulate three times more money locally than those in international ownership.
SuperValu, which has 197 stores nationwide, is committed to local employment and supporting local suppliers. 75% of everything on SuperValu’s shelves is sourced or produced in Ireland, contributing over €1.6 billion to the Irish economy and helping to sustain almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector. Of this, SuperValu sold half a billion euro worth of Irish fresh food in 2012.
