Keohane Seafoods secure new €30m Lidl deal
Lidl Ireland has announced an expanded supply deal worth over €30m with long-standing supplier Keohane Seafoods.
The deal will see the West Cork-based seafood company increase its supply of fresh, frozen and new range of ready-to-eat products across the retailer’s 184 stores throughout Ireland and export its premium fresh Irish seafood to Lidl stores across Europe, including Germany, France, Switzerland & the Canary Islands.
The new deal comes ahead of the Easter season which will see Lidl’s Deluxe Whole Fresh Salmon and Deluxe Whole Salmon Side with Lemon and Dill take centre stage on tables across Ireland, sourced from Keohane Seafood’s facility in Bantry, County Cork.
Founded in 2010 by Michael Keohane and his two sons, Colman and Brian, who hail from the West Cork coastline, Keohane Seafoods secured its first contract with Lidl Ireland in 2011, supplying just two salmon darnes, alongside cod and mackerel products.
The retailer awarded Keohane Seafoods with its first major contract worth €20m in 2022.
Working alongside Lidl, the seafood business has grown to become Ireland’s largest quality seafood processor, now employing 285 people across its sites, with 200 staff in Bantry and 85 in Cork.
The company has a strong focus on sustainability and collaborated with Lidl Ireland in 2022 to use prevented ocean plastic (Pop) packaging across several product lines, preventing almost 19 tonnes of plastic from entering the ocean per year – the equivalent of almost 750,000 plastic water bottles.
In the last number of years, Keohane’s has invested heavily in innovation including the opening of its new “Ready to Eat” facility last year in Bantry which has opened up opportunities for new product lines to better meet the needs of Lidl shoppers.
As part of the new range, Keohane’s now supplies Lidl Ireland with Jumbo King prawns, Organic Hot Smoked Salmon and some seasonal Cold Smoked Salmon items.
Reflecting on their long-standing partnership with Lidl, Colman Keohane, Managing Director of Keohane Seafoods, emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “Our partnership with Lidl has been one of the main ingredients to our success.
“Lidl has been an essential partner for our growth and their continued belief and investment has given us the unique opportunity to showcase our products to Lidl customers both locally and internationally.
“Our longstanding contract with Lidl has not only fuelled the company’s growth but also created valuable employment opportunities within the Cork community.”
“We are committed to delivering products of the highest quality, with sustainability at the heart of everything we do.
“With Lidl’s ongoing support, we have been able to innovate, introduce new products and adapt our operations all while minimising our environmental impact.
“Our new Ready to Eat range is a perfect example of this innovation that we are excited to share with Lidl customers at home and abroad."
Commenting on the new deal, Emma Nolan, Senior Buyer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: "At Lidl, our priority is to offer high-quality, premium products at affordable prices, and this new partnership with Keohane Seafoods underscores the exceptional quality and success of their offerings, both here and abroad.
“Over the course of our partnership, Keohane Seafoods has significantly scaled their business, creating valuable employment opportunities within the local community.
“Their unwavering commitment to product development, innovation, and sustainability perfectly aligns with our own business ethos.
“We are thrilled to be part of their journey, bringing a premium product to Lidl stores not just in Ireland, but across the UK and Europe."
Lidl says it is proud to give Irish producers unrivalled access to local and international markets supporting the growth and success of Irish produce worldwide.
The new deal comes ahead of the Easter season which will see Lidl’sDeluxe Whole Fresh Salmon and Deluxe Whole Salmon Side with Lemon and Dill take centre stage on tables across Ireland. (Pic: John Keeble/Getty Images)
Lidl Ireland’s latest Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report shows the retailer procured more than €1.67bn worth of goods and services from Irish businesses in 2024 - an increase of €41m on last year.
Of this, Lidl Ireland procured €1.2bn worth of goods from the Irish agrifood sector in 2024 - up €89m on 2023.
Since 2017, Lidl Ireland has invested over €37m in its Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, supporting nearly 300 small and medium-sized Irish food and drink suppliers get their products into Lidl stores nationwide.
Photo: Colman Keohane, Keohane’s Seafoods of Keohanes Seafoods and Emma Nolan, Lidl Ireland pictured at Gortalassa, Bantry, Co. Cork. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
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