Lidl Ireland has announced a new €90m five-year potato supply deal with Co Meath family business, Meade Farm.
Meade Farm was founded in 1982 by Philip Sr and Emily Meade and it is now run by the next generation of the family, including Philip Jr, Patrick and Eleanor, with Philip Sr continuing to be involved in the business.
The company has grown from a potato farm into a major agri-business that grows, packs and distributes potatoes, fruit, vegetables and salads across Ireland.
The business operates out of their main family farm and food production facility in Lobinstown, Co Meath which includes more than 150,000 sq. feet of packing facilities.
The partnership between Lidl and Meade Farm spans over 25 years, beginning in 2000, when the family business made its first delivery of just seven pallets of potatoes to the supermarket.
More than a quarter of a century later, the new five-year deal marks the latest development in a relationship that has grown significantly alongside Lidl’s business in Ireland.
Fresh produce
While the new agreement relates specifically to potatoes, Meade Farm’s wider relationship with Lidl extends across a range of fresh produce including salads, broccoli, carrots, parsnips, turnips, Brussels sprouts and pumpkins, through its own growing operations and network of smaller growers.
“Long-term relationships with Irish suppliers are hugely important to our business and our partnership with Meade Farm is a great example of how those relationships develop over time,” Kevin Duffy, chief commercial officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland commented.
“At Lidl, potatoes remain a core staple for our customers and with this new five-year partnership with Meade Farm, our customers can count on finding a reliable, long-term supply of home-grown Irish potatoes on our shelves. Building on a partnership that has lasted more than 25 years, this €90 million supply deal will provide both parties with the stability and certainty needed to invest in future growth.”
Long-term commitment
“As a family agri-business based in the Boyne Valley, this long-term commitment gives us the security and confidence to continue investing in more sustainable and modern farming practices, while planning for succession and the future of our business,” Eleanor Meade of Meade Farm stated.
“That certainty is hugely important not only for Meade Farm, but for our employees, our growers and the wider Irish potato industry, supporting continued investment and helping to ensure that quality Irish-grown produce remains viable and sustainable for generations to come.”
Earlier this year, Lidl Ireland reported a record €404 million worth of produce procured from Irish suppliers in 2025, a 20% increase over the previous year.
In addition, Lidl Ireland has invested more than €42 million in its Kickstart Supplier Development programme, supporting over 300 small to medium sized Irish suppliers and bringing hundreds of innovative Irish products to Lidl customers.
