Galway food producers in Lidl Kickstarter Programme
TWO Galway suppliers have been selected to take part in the Lidl 2026 Kickstart Supplier Development Programme.
The Kickstart Class of 2026 represents a new wave of ambitious producers spanning food, drink, wellness, and artisan categories.
Among those selected are Crust Gluten Free, who are based in the Bia Innovation Campus in Athenry, who were chosen for their Gluten Free baking mixes. Another Galway producer chosen was Gran Gran Foods in Kilcolgan for their Smoked Burger Sauce, Lemon and Herb Sauce, and Jalapeno Burger Sauce.
The full range of 50 Kickstart products from 22 Irish suppliers will be available in Lidl’s 235 stores nationwide from Thursday September 10, as part of a two-week promotional campaign.
Alongside the in-store presence, Kickstart suppliers will benefit from a comprehensive six-month development programme to get them 'retail ready.'
They will learn everything from product development and packaging to labelling and marketing culminating in the all-important two weeks promotional sales period in Lidl stores across the island of Ireland.
Ten year milestone
“Reaching ten years of Kickstart is a proud milestone for Lidl Ireland and a testament to the ambition, resilience and quality of Irish producers,” stated Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer for Kickstart at Lidl Ireland.
“Over the past decade, we have seen small and emerging businesses grow into recognised retail brands, creating jobs and expanding into new markets at home and abroad as they become firm favourites of our customers.
“This year’s cohort reflects the innovation and diversity that makes Ireland’s food and drink sector so dynamic. We are delighted to support them with the expertise, platform and customer reach needed to take the next step in their growth journey.”
The programme has delivered long-term success stories, with several participants securing permanent listings in Lidl stores.
Kickstart also continues to open doors internationally, with many alumni going on to export their products through Lidl’s extensive global network across Europe, the UK and the USA.