Fourth generation family run business Shellfish Ireland have landed a massive deal to supply fresh crab to over 800 Lidl stores in Spain and Portugal.
The deal is worth over €500,000 to the business in Castletownbere, Co Cork and is welcome news for Irish food suppliers.
Last year over €4million worth of seafood was exported from Ireland to Mainland Europe and this new deal is expected to raise the figure to €5million, Cork Beo reports.
Ryan Murphy from Shellfish Ireland spoke about the huge deal and what it means for the business. “The opportunity to export wild north east Atlantic crab, or brown crab, to Lidl stores in Spain and Portugal is hugely exciting for us and will allow us to continue to support the local community, where we are one of the largest employers in the area.
It is fantastic to see a large international retailer like Lidl show such confidence in Irish companies”.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD also commented on the deal. “It is heartening to see a small family run company from West Cork receive such recognition for their quality seafood products, from a leading retailer such as Lidl.
"Deals such as this, which will see products from West Cork on shelves all over Spain and Portugal, are a welcome boost for small rural communities where it will help sustain employment and bolster the local economy."
