Carlingford’s Ogam Aromatherapy gets ‘Kickstart’

Lidl Ireland is set to give a ‘Kickstart’ to a new batch of 48 Irish producers from across the country, including on in Louth, who successfully earned a place on the retailer’s Kickstart Supplier Development Programme – an initiative that the retailer has invested more than €30 million in supporting over 250 Irish producers to date. 

Following a competitive Dragon’s Den style pitch process to find this year’s most innovative products, 48 suppliers across 20 different counties, including Ogam Aromatherapy from Carlingford, were selected as the cream of the crop after an intensive application process which saw producers put through their paces with a business pitch to Lidl’s buying team and a taste test to select the best in category. 

Ogam Aromatherapy is a second-generation family business founded by Roisin Carroll and now managed by her daughter, Caoimhe Carroll. Over the years, Ogam Aromatherapy has expanded beyond essential oils to develop a range of natural products from bath salts and sanitisers to shampoos, candles and body scrubs.

Successful producers will now see their artisan offerings on sale on Lidl shelves across its 220 stores across the island of Ireland from September 19th for a limited time, while stocks last. This includes Ogam Aromatherapy’s Soak Bath Salts which will be available in Lidl stores nationwide. 

From high-quality convenience foods, fish and meat, to beauty, baking, ice cream, condiments and beers – as well as the programme’s first ever pet food item – this year’s assortment will have something for everyone, with a marked focus on unveiling some of Ireland’s best circular economy products to offer more sustainable choice for customers. 

Before the products hit the shelves, this six-month development programme offers suppliers dedicated business support from Lidl’s in-house experts, advancing their product, brand and business with practical guidance on how to scale production, drive production efficiency, as well as product development and packaging support, allowing them to optimise on-shelf opportunities in the Autumn and scale for success. 

Now in its eighth year, and supported by Bord Bia, this year’s programme saw a record number of applicants from every province in Ireland. 

Kate O’Driscoll, Supplier Development Manager at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “Lidl’s Kickstart Supplier Development programme allows us to support Irish producers building their businesses while providing our customers with a great range of new and innovative Irish products.

"Since 2016, Lidl has invested more than €30 million in growing and supporting small local producers – an investment which has seen huge success over the years with several Kickstart products getting fully listed and now being part of Lidl’s everyday product range. Other products have benefited from the expansive international store network, reaching the shores of the UK, Europe and even the USA over the eight years of the programme. 

"This year there was phenomenal interest in participating in the Kickstart programme, attending our Pitch Day at Lidl HQ and great excitement for both the producers to show off their products and for my colleagues on the Lidl buying team to collaborate and plan for success”.

With 112 new products listed for this year’s Kickstart programme, the retailer will add significantly to its annual goods and services procurement spend of €1.6 billion in Ireland. Since its launch in 2016, Lidl has invested €30 million in supporting over 250 Irish businesses through the Kickstart programme. Many Kickstart suppliers have also benefitted from having their products exported across Lidl’s international network of stores.  

Commenting on the partnership, Fiona Twomey, Global Retail Specialist at Bord Bia said: “Bord Bia is proud to support the Lidl Kickstart programme. We recognise the opportunity a global retailer like Lidl presents to Irish food and drink companies to get their products on shelf in Lidl stores around the world, while the Kickstart programme itself offers a multitude of business development learnings. On behalf of Bord Bia, I wish each of the participants every success on the first phase of this programme.”