Bandon Vale extends Tesco contract in deal worth €17m

Bandon Vale managing director Eilis Mahon and Tesco Ireland senior buying manager Aisling Pearce.

Cork cheese company Bandon Vale has secured an extension of its partnership with supermarket giant Tesco in a deal which will see the value of the contract grow from €12m to €17m.

Tesco will significantly expand its range of cheese products with the West Cork-based company and the producer will provide a number of new products into their stores. The company will supply its full range of cheddar cheese blocks, slices, and grated products, as well as Dutch sliced cheese and grated mozzarella to 170 stores across Ireland.

Bandon Vale operate a purpose-built packing facility in the West Cork town. The company was founded in 1994 and has won numerous accolades, amongst them a Blas na Éireann award last year for its Tesco Finest Vintage cheddar.

Bandon Vale has supplied Tesco for the past three years.

Eilis Mahon, Managing Director, Bandon Vale welcomed the partnership extension and said the contract supports 200 jobs in West Cork. "We are delighted to work with Tesco to bring more of our products to their customers around Ireland. We pride ourselves on providing a trusted quality product and we are committed to ensuring that all activities of the business are carried out with specific regard to their environmental impact."

"Bandon Vale is dedicated to continuous improvement in service and quality. We continue to invest in equipment, production facilities and our people to ensure we exceed customer requirements and expectations," she said.

Aisling Pearce, Senior Buying Manager with Tesco Ireland said Bandon Vale has provided the majority of Tesco's own-label cheddar, for the past three years. "This latest chapter will see Bandon Vale provide more than 20 new products, including sliced and grated cheese, to Tesco. These products are firm favourites with our customers who will enjoy the expanded range from this Irish producer," she said.

"As the leading buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, our partnership with Bandon Vale reflects the ongoing and long-standing partnerships we have with Irish agrifood sector. As a proud Cork woman, I’m particularly proud that products coming from West Cork will be available in our stores across the length and breadth of the country.”

Tesco said it purchases €1.6bn of Irish food and drink each year from more than 500 companies. Industry consultants Indecon estimates that almost three-quarters of Tesco’s 500 Irish suppliers are small and medium enterprises, with fewer than 250 employees.

CORK BUSINESS

A collection of the latest business articles and business analysis from Cork.