Surging demand for vegetarian and vegan Christmas dinners is fuelling huge demand for Irish vegetables - so much so they will weigh 20 NASA space shuttles combined.
One of the country’s leading supermarket chains expects that due to the increased interest in Irish food this festive season combined with shoppers who are keen to support local almost 2,000 tonnes of vegetables will end up on dinner tables nationwide.
SuperValu, believes that because consumers are more aware of supporting local producers this year in particular, coupled with a spike in demand for vegetarian and vegan alternatives, they expect to sell just under 1,900 tonnes of Irish vegetables.
Ray Kelly, Interim Managing Director, SuperValu, said that supporting local has always been in the food retailer’s DNA.
“We source from Irish suppliers wherever possible and we expect increased interest from shoppers in buying the very best in quality Irish food this Christmas. It’s in our DNA.
“We are very fortunate to have long-standing partnerships with a range of Irish companies, which allows our customers to put the best of local and Irish on the table for their Christmas dinners,” said Mr Kelly.
The Director added:“Whether it’s the superb brussels sprouts we source from Paudie Hanafin, who we have partnered with for 13 years, or the delicious paté from Union Hall, a west Cork supplier the local economy is being supported.
“(It is important) to make sure that buying Irish is a top priority to give food producers from across the country a boost during the busiest trading period of the year.”
The brussels sprout, diner’s perennial dinner-table festive favourite, is so far proving to be top of consumer demand with the supermarket giant expecting to sell 135 tonnes of the love or hate vegetable.
Other suppliers including Dublin’s K&K Produce will provide 1,000 tonnes of potatoes along with another 48 tonnes of parsnips, and carrots.
IGWT and Grove Farm Turkeys in Co Monaghan are supplying €2.5 million worth of 100% Irish, Bord Bia-approved turkeys with Oliver Carty Ltd supplying €2m worth of Irish hams.
Various producers who offer other seasonal must haves such as vegetables, desserts, smoked salmon, are located all over the country from Mayo, Carlow, Cork, Kildare and Cavan. And as a result sourcing products locally means that SuperValu helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy.
The company serves over 2.6 million customers weekly with 223 supermarkets nationwide. Together with its retail partners, the chain employs approximately 14,500 people, making it one of the State’s largest private-sector employers.
