BALLYBOFEY headquartered fruit juice producer Mulrine and Sons has been honoured at one of the Irish retail sector’s most prestigious supplier events, taking home the ‘Outstanding Service Level’ award at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland’s sixth annual 1st Choice Supplier Summit.
The summit, held at the RDS in Dublin earlier this month, brought together the cream of Lidl’s local supplier network to celebrate excellence in quality, performance, and partnership.
Mulrine and Sons were singled out for their collaborative approach and willingness to adapt and improve their systems, an effort that judges said has made a significant, positive impact on customer satisfaction across Lidl’s store network.
Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, paid tribute to the Donegal firm’s contribution to the retailer’s supply chain ambitions.
“As the fastest-growing retailer in Ireland and Northern Ireland, our ambitious plans are only possible through meaningful collaboration with resilient, agile partners like Mulrine and Sons, who serve as a key pillar in our end-to-end supply chain,” Mr Duffy said.
He added that Lidl had reached the landmark figure of €2 billion in local sourcing this year, and credited supplier relationships of this kind as central to maintaining the highest quality experience for customers.
Service levels are a core pillar of Lidl’s retail model, ensuring full product availability on shelves at all times. Through investment in new technologies, Mulrine and Sons have made significant strides in fulfilment over the past year, raising standards across every stage of the supply chain, from forecasting and production planning through to warehousing, transport, and final delivery.
The 1st Choice Supplier Summit also served as a strategic forum, with Lidl using the occasion to engage its supplier network on long-term planning, sustainable growth, and how to navigate increasing pressures across the wider industry.
The award is the latest recognition for the Ballybofey company, and will be warmly welcomed across the local business community as further evidence of Donegal’s growing presence on the national retail stage.