ALDI is delighted to announce that three entrepreneurial Irish food producers have been selected as the overall winners of Grow with ALDI 2024, securing Specialbuy contracts that will cement their businesses presence on the Irish retail scene and see their products stocked in 162 stores nationwide.
This year’s winners were chosen following a nationwide call-out that saw emerging food and drinks producers from all over the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland apply to take part. In May, 27 finalists were shortlisted and saw their products go on sale in ALDI stores nationwide as part of a Specialbuy pilot promotion. With this, three fan favourites came out on with products including cinema-quality popcorn & candy floss, tasty garlic mayonnaise and healthy, heart-friendly oil sprays.
The Grow with ALDI 2024 winners are:
Moran’s Mega Jam is a business based in Co. Cavan, run by husband-and-wife Kieron and Claire Moran. Specialising in jams, chutneys and relishes, their products are made with fresh, local ingredients. Their winning garlic mayonnaise (€2.99) is bursting with rich flavour, making it the perfect accompaniment to any dish!
Kieron Moran of Moran’s Mega Jam said: “Both of us are delighted to have been chosen as one of the winners of Grow with ALDI. As a small business, it’s not every day you get the opportunity to showcase your products in front of a national audience. That’s why we’re so excited to see our garlic mayonnaise stocked on ALDI shelves nationwide. We would like to thank ALDI and Bord Bia for their invaluable support and guidance to date, and hope ALDI customers love our garlic mayo as much as we do!”
Pure Bea is a Co. Wicklow business, run by Keith Symes. It produces a range of naturally blended, low-calorie olive and sunflower oil sprays and rapeseed oil sprays that are tasty, flavoursome and rich in nutrients like Vitamin E and Omega 3.
Keith Symes of Pure Bea said: “I am thrilled to have been chosen as one of this year’s winners of Grow with ALDI. This show of support is such a boost for a small business, and I am tremendously grateful to ALDI and Bord Bia for taking a chance on Pure Bea. The entire process has been an incredible experience, and we’re excited to bring our products to a much larger audience for them to try.”
Macey’s Factory is a local business that produces popcorn and candy floss, run by father-and-son duo Shay & Marc Donley from Co. Derry. Products include salty popcorn (€1.99), sweet popcorn (€1.99) and flavoured candy floss (€1.99) - perfect for family movie nights!
Speaking about his win, Shay Donley of Macey’s Factory, said: “We are over the moon to be among this year’s Grow with ALDI winners. At Macey’s Factory, we’re committed to delivering quality snacks that put a smile on people’s faces. We are so grateful to be given this opportunity to take our business to the next level and look forward to having ALDI customers all over Ireland discover our delicious popcorn & candy floss.”
All three winners’ products will be on shelves for a period in ALDI stores nationwide from September 12th, allowing ALDI customers to discover the finest Irish artisan food at unbeatable prices. These products will then return to ALDI shelves as Specialbuys at various times throughout 2025.
Undertaken in partnership with Bord Bia, Grow with ALDI is now in its seventh year and is a leading developmental platform for Irish suppliers. The programme provides invaluable industry mentorship and retail guidance, aimed at fostering the growth and sustainability of small to medium-sized Irish businesses. Since its inception in 2018, ALDI’s initiative has invested over €10 million, propelling Irish-made products to new heights.
Speaking about this year’s Grow with ALDI competition, Rachael O’Connor of ALDI, said; “This year’s Grow with ALDI has once again been a huge success with three incredible winners coming out on top. As always, we were hugely impressed with the quality and variety on display among this year’s finalists and are pleased to have been able to showcase so many talented food and drink producers. At ALDI, we are committed to supporting and nurturing small independent businesses. That’s why we’re proud to work with the likes of Macey’s Factory, Pure Bea, and Moran’s Mega Jam, each of whom embody what it means to be a true innovator in the food and drinks sphere. Once again, I wish to congratulate our three winners and encourage our customers to get out and support local!”
Commenting on their partnership with the programme, Fiona Twomey, Bord Bia’s Global Retail Specialist said: “At Bord Bia, we are committed to supporting initiatives that celebrate and foster the talent of Irish food and drink producers. The Grow with ALDI programme is an important showcase for emerging food and drink businesses in Ireland and we at Bord Bia, wish this year’s winners the very best on the next leg of their business journey.”
For more information on the Grow with ALDI programme, visit aldi.ie/grow. Keep your eyes peeled for products in store from September 12th!
Slán go fóill.