Drumbo brewing business wins ALDI 2023 Grow With Aldi competition
A County Down producer’s sparkling iced teas will now be stocked in 162 ALDI stores across Ireland after the winners were revealed at the National Ploughing Championships in Ireland today.
ALDI is delighted to announce that The Craft Brew Tea Co., a brewery based in Co. Down, has been chosen as one of the winners of this year’s Grow with the ALDI programme.
This involves landing a year-long contract that will see their products stocked in all 160 ALDI stores nationwide as Specialbuys throughout the year.
The Craft Brew Tea Co. is a small craft brewery based in the hills of Drumbo, Co. Down.
It produces a variety of refreshing drinks made using traditional fermentation methods, including sparkling iced tea made from all natural ingredients and available in striking flavours like Green Tea Mojito €2.75 and Peach Melba €2.75.
The winners were revealed by Irish entrepreneur and Grow with ALDI ambassador, Roz Purcell, and Bord Bia CEO, Jim O’Toole, at the National Ploughing Championships today in Ratheniska, Co. Laois.
This year’s lucky winners were chosen following a competitive process that saw 24 finalists’ products go on sale in ALDI stores nationwide for a two-week period in May.
This year’s winners hail from across the island of Ireland with each one selected on the basis of their passion, the quality of their produce and their entrepreneurial spirit.
With creativity and innovation central to each winning product, this year’s Grow with ALDI winners embody what it means to be brave and back yourself.
All three winners will now have their products available for sale in ALDI stores nationwide, allowing ALDI customers to discover the finest Irish artisan food and drink at unbeatable prices and reinforcing ALDI’s commitment to championing Irish produce and supporting small businesses.
The Grow with ALDI 2023 winners are:
| The Craft Brew Tea Co. | Peter Barrett | Sparkling Iced Tea | Co. Down |
| FemFuelz | Kylie & William O’Donoghue | Nutritional Supplement | Co. Limerick |
| ONiT! Onions | Ian Miller | Crispy Onions | Co. Derry |
Speaking about the exciting win, Peter Barrett of Craft Brew Tea Co. in Co. Down said: “Grow with ALDI has been an incredible experience from beginning to end.
“As a small business owner, I’ve felt supported every step of the way and I wish to thank everyone involved for being so generous with their guidance and expertise.
“For a small craft brewery like ours to have its products stocked in a national retailer is a true pinch me moment and I can’t wait for ALDI customers to discover the magic of healthy real brewed drinks and try our healthy sparkling iced teas.”
Speaking about this year’s Grow with ALDI programme, Rachael O’Connor, Buying Director at ALDI Ireland, said: “This year’s Grow with ALDI has been another resounding success as demonstrated by our three remarkable winners who each exemplify what it means to be bold, brave, and tenacious.
“At ALDI, we seek to collaborate with the most exciting and dynamic food and drink producers in Ireland so we can offer our customers local artisan food at great value prices.
“We are invested in the success of small Irish businesses and that’s why we are proud to offer a national platform to emerging producers like FemFuelz, ONiT! Onions and The Craft Brew Tea Co.
“On behalf of everyone at ALDI, I would like to personally congratulate each of our winners, and I look forward to seeing their businesses grow bigger, better, and stronger.”
Undertaken in partnership with Bord Bia and in association with Invest NI, Grow with ALDI is now in its sixth year and invites suppliers from across the island of Ireland to back their passion and take their business to the next level.
An industry-led programme, it offers practical, hands-on mentorship and invaluable retail support to help nurture small to medium-sized Irish businesses, setting them up for long-term success.
Participants are invited to take part in workshops in Buying Process, Supply Chain Management and Social Media Marketing and offered specialised one-on-one mentoring sessions with experts from ALDI and Bord Bia.
Since the programme’s launch in 2018, ALDI has invested more than €8.5 million into championing over 250 producers. Through the scheme, producers are afforded unrivalled access to Irish consumers, ensuring they can grow and thrive in the Irish market.
The winning products are now available in 160 ALDI stores nationwide:
- FemFuelz Gut Blend, White Chocolate and Hazelnut Whey Protein and Vegan Protein €16.49. Designed specifically for the nutritional needs of the female body, FemFuelz’s deliciously blended protein powders and supplement contain premium ingredients, vitamins and minerals.
- ONiT! Onions Crispy Onions €2.39 Deliciously crunchy, Irish crispy onions grown and produced on the farm with incredible flavour and texture. Choose from Flame Grilled or Original.
- Green Tea Mojito €2.75 and Peach Melba €2.75 Hand-crafted from real brewed tea, their sparkling iced teas are made with 100% real ingredients as a refreshing alternative to soft drinks.
For more information on the Grow with ALDI programme, visit:
