Aldi signs new five-year deal with Dublin grower

Flynn’s Tomatoes deal is worth €14 million to third-generation family business

Photograph: iStock
Photograph: iStock

German retailer Aldi has renewed a five-year contract with Co Dublin grower Flynn's Tomatoes in a deal worth €14 million.

The contract will see MF Nurseries supply Flynn’s Tomatoes to 139 stores, covering 10.5 million packs of Irish-grown tomatoes, with eight different varieties including Piccolo, Sunstream, Vine, Plum, Baby Vine, Cherry Vine and Rainbow Mix. Roterno Vine tomatoes will also launch in Aldi stores in 2020.

The third-generation family business employs up to 20 people during peak growing season. Currently run by father and son team William and Martin Flynn, it has supplied tomatoes to Aldi since 2013.

“This new long-term agreement with Aldi is a huge vote of confidence in our business,” said Martin Flynn.

The Dublin company has also been involved in Aldi’s push to remove and limit unrecyclable packaging from its supply chain, becoming Aldi’s first fruit and veg supplier to remove black plastic trays from its produce earlier this year and replace them with cardboard trays.

"Supporting local innovative Irish producers has always been a key priority for Aldi," said the supermarket's group buying director, John Curtin. He said Aldi was now working with more than 200 Irish food and drink producers.

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Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist