Irish Potato Is Still King

1 June 2009

SuperValu To Source €25 Million Of Irish Potatoes in 2009

1st June - SuperValu has announced that the first new season Irish potatoes will be delivered to over 190 stores nationwide this week.  SuperValu spent over €25 million on Irish potatoes in 2008 and with volume up almost 12%, Ireland’s leading independent supermarket network expect to exceed this again in the coming year, In these recessionary times, indications are that consumers are returning to home-cooked familiar foods.

Approximately 35,000 tonnes of potatoes are sourced from SuperValu’s group of dedicated growing partners and packed into the SuperValu branded bags. With primary packers based in Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork, and product sourced from growers in Donegal, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Kildare, Dublin, Cork and Waterford, this truly is a nationwide enterprise.

During 2008 Musgrave and the SuperValu brand made a significant contribution to the Irish economy and Irish suppliers with 75% of all products purchased on behalf of all its retail partners, either produced or manufactured in Ireland. This represents total purchases from Irish suppliers in excess of €2.85 billion at retail level, serving to both create and protect Irish jobs and livelihoods and also sustain the Irish community.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Piaras Kelly / Susan Flynn
Edelman
01 6789333
086 8131691 / 087 9451715
piaras.kelly@edelman.com / susan.flynn@edelman.com