The "Grow with Aldi" program represents a fantastic opportunity to expand and reach a larger customer base. Aldi emphasizes its commitment to supporting Irish suppliers through this initiative. Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, "Grow with Aldi" is designed to assist top-tier Irish suppliers in developing their brands. To date, Aldi has invested €10 million in the program to identify the very best Irish suppliers. Consequently, for a limited time, there are over 47 new products from 27 Irish suppliers available in-store.
Early Begginings
We heard about this program through Aldi's website and social media channels. The application process was straightforward and during the Aldi sampling, we provided samples of our product. Aldi was very helpful and accommodating, answering all our questions and providing support.
Throughout the program, we had a dedicated growth manager who was always available to help us succeed. Their guidance and support were invaluable, as they were helping us to challenges, provide ideas and maximize our opportunities within the program.
Amazing Media Day
One of the highlights of of our experience was the Aldi Media Day where we, along with other suppliers, were able to showcase our products to special guests before the official release. Aldi provided us excellent media support and we enjoyed this day to the fullest.
Impact on our Branding
Grow with Aldi helped us gain significant hype around our brand, mainly through LinkedIn and other social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. It also increased traffic to our website, with more articles written about us. More importantly, we could showcase our products to the public, allowing them to try and become more familiar with our brand. The biggest challenge for us as a small business was managing the timings and amount of stock, but it was manageable.
Other Suppliers
Although networking is not a primary focus of the Grow with Aldi program, we had the opportunity to network and discuss our experiences and challenges, forming new friendships. The overall atmosphere was very cheerful and positive.
Looking ahead, this experience has made us aware of our potential market in retail stores. We currently supply nuts and dried fruits to stores like SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak, Spar & Eurospar, and Costcutter, but we see opportunities to build on this and enhance the overall experience.
Our Advice
Our advice to other businesses would be to stand firm for your business, be fully aware of your product, and be ready for pitching! Being part of Grow with Aldi feels like growth.
