ALDI has helped Barnardos support families in need across Ireland, raising €2 million for their Early Years and Family Support Services since the partnership began in 2020

ALDI Ireland has today announced the extension of its partnership with Barnardos, Ireland’s leading children’s charity. This renewed commitment highlights ALDI’s ongoing dedication to supporting families across Ireland, as the retailer aims to focus its efforts on supporting parents and the primary care givers of our children, in the period ahead.

ALDI’s support will raise vital funds for Barnardos’ Early Years and Family Support Services, assisting families in need across Ireland. The Barnardos Early Years Services work to provide children with the educational, emotional, and physical supports they need to start school with the same opportunity for success as any child. Barnardos Family Support Services offer support to the families of children, who may be experiencing crises such as domestic violence, mental ill health, or addiction.

Through this new phase of the partnership, ALDI will work with Barnardos over the next two years to help deliver much-needed resources and support to parents right across Ireland.

As part of the ongoing partnership, ALDI and Barnardos are working to create change in communities across Ireland, supporting families most at risk. In 2023, Barnardos supported over 26,000 children and families, 25% more than the previous year. Since the partnership began in 2020, ALDI has raised €2 million for Barnardos.

Commenting on the partnership renewal, Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director, ALDI Ireland said: “Through our partnership with Barnardos, we’ve been able to make a meaningful impact on the lives of parents and families in need over the past four years. We are proud to extend our partnership for a further two years, where we will continue to collaborate with Barnardos, with a renewed focus on addressing and supporting the key issues that parents face. We want to help parents and care givers across Ireland to build better lives for children.

“Our goal over the next two years is to help raise an additional €1 million in support of Barnardos services nationwide. ALDI’s support will allow Barnardos to provide much needed assistance across Ireland, helping children and families most at risk. Together we are working to support thousands of children and families, with intensive family support, targeted interventions as well as early years support for children who need it most.”

Suzanne Connolly, CEO, Barnardos added: “We offer support to families in whatever way they need us – through services, access or even just a listening ear. ALDI Ireland has been a steadfast partner in this mission since 2020 and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them. Their investment over the coming years will continue to create a tangible and lasting impact for the families we support, and we will continue to provide assistance where it is needed most in caring for parents. Together we are working to support thousands of children and families who are struggling with deprivation, mental ill health, bereavement, domestic violence or other challenges – because childhood lasts a lifetime.

“We are working to change the story of thousands of children, and ALDI’s continued support is invaluable in transforming the lives of the families that we support.”

Mark Brennan, Barnardos Project Worker, says: “We see first-hand the impact of ALDI’s support every day. The families that Barnardos work with know that our door is always open, and thanks to ALDI and their ongoing support, we can continue to invest in core services across Ireland to help those most at risk. We know that childhood lasts a lifetime and through our partnership with ALDI, Barnardos can create lasting change.”

Partnership to Date

Since 2020, ALDI Ireland colleagues and customers have raised almost €2 million for Barnardos. The significant contribution the partnership has made to date has enabled Barnardos to reach parents and families in need. Since first partnering together, ALDI and Barnardos have directly assisted thousands of families right across Ireland, raising vital funds for their Early Years and Family Support Services, including providing vulnerable children with healthy breakfasts, hot meals and nutritious snacks. The funds from the partnership to date have provided:

• 200 families with specialised counselling
• 2,000 children to be school-ready
• 20,000 meals for children at Barnardos

ALDI Ireland has ambitious plans to work closely with Barnardos over the next two years and will raise another €1m for the charity in that time. Through this support, ALDI and Barnardos will focus on directing efforts where they are needed most, in addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable families across Ireland.

Pictured at the announcement of ALDI Ireland’s partnership renewal with Barnardos are Suzanne Connolly, CEO of Barnardos Ireland; Niall O’Connor, Group Managing Director at ALDI Ireland; Sienna Fitzgerald and Sonny Conlon.

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• Consumers are throwing away €16 worth of food every week – €1 in every €7 spent on groceries
• 59% of consumers are buying less food to avoid wasting it
• According to the EPA, Ireland loses €1 billion annually due to food waste
• ALDI and FoodCloud celebrate 10-year partnership and over 4 million meal donations to FoodCloud charities

Research conducted among 1,000 people by Coyne Research on behalf of ALDI and FoodCloud found that, on average, Irish consumers waste €832 worth of food every year.

The research was launched as ALDI and FoodCloud mark their 10-year partnership, and four million meals donated to FoodCloud charities. FoodCloud is dedicated to fighting food waste and food insecurity and has redistributed 123,760 tonnes of food since it was established, the equivalent of over 294.7 million meals.

The announcement comes following the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on 29^th September.

Food waste in numbers

ALDI’s research has identified a number of key findings in relation to food waste and waste reduction efforts. The findings show that 14% of the average weekly spend on groceries is going to waste. The value of food wasted each week equates to €832 a year for the average household in Ireland.

Now, up to 43% of customers throw out food weekly, down from 47% in 2022, with young families most likely to do so and most likely to be uncomfortable with the amount of food they are throwing away.

80% of consumers say they prepare a weekly meal plan while 59% of consumers said they are buying less food to avoid wasting it. These proactive measures not only help reduce waste but also promote better budgeting to manage ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

Aside from the financial and environmental cost, the opportunity to direct food to those less fortunate is cited as a major motivation for those surveyed.

Managing the cost of living

Irish households remain very conscious of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 44% of consumers state they have been spending the same as in 2022 on weekly groceries with 37% of Irish consumers claiming they are consciously trying to spend less.

The average weekly spend on groceries for consumers without children is €94 per week, which rises to €129 for consumers with children.

ALDI and FoodCloud

FoodCloud works with numerous partners including ALDI to reduce food loss and waste through redistributing surplus food. This avoids causing significant levels of greenhouse emissions, which helps redistribute surplus food to those who can use it and reduces the cost of food waste disposal.

Food waste is a global problem that has environmental, social and economic consequences and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland loses over €1 billion annually due to food waste.

Since first working together in 2014, ALDI’s partnership with FoodCloud has resulted in the donation of more than four million meals. This has saved over 1.7 million kilograms of food from being wasted, which in return prevents approximately 5.6 million kilograms of CO2-equivalent emissions.

Commenting on the research Colin Breslin, Managing Director of Buying and Services at ALDI Ireland, said: “This research emphasises the progress being made in reducing food waste in Ireland and that we are on the right path.  Reducing food waste not only brings financial benefits for customers, but also has a positive impact on the environment, and ensures that food can be redistributed to those most vulnerable in society.

“Our 10-year partnership with FoodCloud has been instrumental in addressing this issue, and while there has been a lot of progress in that time, we know there is more to be done. We are committed to providing practical solutions to our customers that can help them make more sustainable choices. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing food waste and its negative effects on the environment and society.”

FoodCloud Co-Founder and CEO Iseult Ward added: “The findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about the environmental and social impacts of food waste. Our decade-long partnership with ALDI has made a substantial difference, but continued education and engagement are crucial to further reduce food waste and its harmful effects.”

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One of Ireland’s leading retailers, ALDI Ireland’s appointment is a reflection of the company’s ‘Better Everyday” sustainability strategy, which aims to make sustainability affordable to all.

ALDI is pleased to be recognised as a leader in the retail sector driving positive sustainable change and looks forward to working alongside the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals in alignment with the 2030 Agenda in Ireland.

The post ALDI appointed as one of Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals Champions (SDG) for 2024-2025   appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

Volumes per trip increased slightly, by 0.4%, as did store visits (1%), with shoppers making, on average, 21.5 trips in the month of April.

The average price per pack grew marginally this month, by 0.7%.

Although value sales are up for April, this was mainly driven by grocery price inflation, rather than increased purchasing.

Within the Irish grocery market, Dunnes Stores still holds the highest market share, at 23.9%, with year-on-year growth of 8% -slightly below last month, when it held 24% of the market.

Tesco follows, with 23% of the market – up by 7.6%, year on year.

SuperValu holds 20.4% of the market and growth of 3.5%. SuperValu’s shoppers  make the most frequent in-store trips, with an average amount of 21.8.

SuperValu also has the strongest growth in volume per trip among Irish retailers – up by 5.8% – contributing an additional €37.4 million to its overall performance.

Lidl holds a 13.6% share, with year-on-year growth of 6.4%.

More frequent trips added €33 million to its overall performance.

Aldo holds 12.1% of the market and a year-on-year decline of 0.6%.

New shoppers and more frequent trips contributed an additional €8.4 million to the discounter’s overall performance.

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Gilfresh Produce have been supplying ALDI with a wide range of whole head and prepared vegetable products since May 2022. The lines that Gilfresh Produce will supply include Nature’s Pick Carrot Batons, Nature’s Pick Shredded Cabbage, Nature’s Pick Carrot, Cauliflower & Broccoli Florets and Nature’s Pick 5 Veg Soup. These lines are in addition to Gilfresh Produce’s very own Oriental Stir-Fry, which is already available in 161 stores nationwide. Last year, ALDI spent over €1.3M with Gilfresh Produce, showcasing just how popular their products are amongst Irish shoppers.

Gilfresh Produce is a proud family business, first established in 1965 by Thomas Gilpin. Thomas began growing vegetables in a 4-acre field at their family home, with the business now growing in excess of 600 acres per year. Gilfresh continues to go from strength to strength and has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s leading vegetable growers and packers.

Matthew Johnston, Account Executive with Gilfresh Produce commented: “Since we began supplying ALDI in May 2022, our working relationship has grown from strength to strength. We are delighted that ALDI have awarded Gilfresh these new lines and will take great pride in ensuring that we supply the freshest high-quality products for all ALDI customers to enjoy.”

Welcoming the additional product lines, John Curtin, ALDI Group Buying Director said: “Gilfresh Produce have extended their portfolio of prepared vegetable products since we began working with them in 2022. We are delighted that several of their products are now part of ALDI’s ‘Nature’s Pick’ range, which is highly rated by our customers. At ALDI, we are committed to working with producers like Gilfresh Produce who continue to expand and grow their business, delivering customers a wide range of high-quality products.”

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