Ogham Aromatherapy in Carlingford ‘kickstarts’

Lidl Ireland will be providing a ‘Kickstart’ to 48 Irish producers across the country, including Louth, who have been successfully awarded participation in the company’s Kickstart supplier development programme, an initiative in which the company has invested over €30 million to date to support over 250 Irish producers.

To find this year’s most innovative products, 48 ​​suppliers across 20 counties, including Ogham Aromatherapy from Carlingford, were selected as the best after a competitive Dragon’s Den-style pitch process in which producers put their business up for sale to Lidl’s buying team and put themselves through tastings to select the best products in their category.

Ogam Aromatherapy is a second generation family-run business founded by Roisin Carroll and now run by her daughter, Caoimhe Carroll. Over the years, Ogam Aromatherapy has expanded beyond essential oils to develop a range of natural products, from bath salts and sanitizers to shampoos, candles and body scrubs.

Successful producers will have their artisanal products available for a limited time on Lidl shelves in 220 stores across the island of Ireland from 19 September, while stocks last. This will also include Ogam Aromatherapy Soak Bath Salts, which will be available to buy in Lidl stores nationwide.

From high quality ready meals, fish and meat, to cosmetics, baking, ice cream, condiments, beer and, for the first time in the programme, pet food, this year’s range will have something for everyone, with a focus on launching some of Ireland’s best circular economy products to offer customers more sustainable choices.

Before products hit store shelves, the six-month development programme will provide suppliers with dedicated business support from Lidl’s in-house experts, providing practical guidance on scaling up production and improving production efficiencies, as well as product development and packaging support to develop suppliers’ products, brands and businesses, optimizing in-store opportunities and enabling them to scale for success in the autumn.

Now in its eighth year, the Bord Bia-supported programme attracted a record number of applications from every county in Ireland.

Kate O’Driscoll, supplier development manager for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Lidl’s Kickstart Supplier Development Programme enables us to offer our customers a wide range of new and innovative Irish products whilst supporting Irish producers to build their businesses.”

“Since 2016, Lidl has invested more than €30 million in nurturing and supporting small, local producers. This investment has been hugely successful over the years, with several of our Kickstart products becoming fully listed and now part of Lidl’s everyday range. Other products have also benefited from the expansion of our international store network, reaching the UK, Europe and even the US over the eight-year programme.”

“We’ve seen incredible interest this year in taking part in the Kickstart programme and attending the pitch day at Lidl HQ, with producers showcasing their products and Lidl buying team colleagues coming together to plan for their success.”

The listing of 112 new products on this year’s Kickstart programme will see the retailer significantly increase its annual procurement spend of goods and services in Ireland of €1.6 billion. Since its launch in 2016, Lidl has invested €30 million to support over 250 Irish businesses through the Kickstart programme. Many of Kickstart’s suppliers have benefited from exporting their products through Lidl’s international store network.

Commenting on the partnership, Fiona Twomey, Global Retail Specialist at Bord Bia said: “Bord Bia is proud to support the Lidl Kickstart programme. We recognise that a global retailer like Lidl offers Irish food and drink companies the opportunity to sell their products in Lidl stores around the world, and the Kickstart programme itself provides a range of business development learning opportunities. On behalf of Bord Bia, we wish all participants every success in the first phase of the programme.”