Supervalu is predicting that Irish spring lamb sales across its stores in 2017 will equal €17m, the equivalent of 225,000 lambs.

The first of this new-season lamb is reportedly already on sale at selected Supervalu butcher’s counters across the country.

The retailer recently reclaimed its position as the most popular supermarket in Ireland.

Its Irish spring lamb is 100% Irish-born and bred; reared by Bord Bia Quality Assured farmers such as Co. Roscommon-based Anthony Moran, according to Supervalu.

Moran, who has been a supplier of Supervalu lamb for the last 20 years, farms 200 ewes in Mount Talbot.

As the “number one supporter of the Irish agri-food industry”, Supervalu is committed to bringing the very best of locally-sourced fresh Irish produce to consumers, Managing Director of Supervalu, Martin Kelleher, said.

“Our policy is to stock 100% Bord Bia approved Supervalu branded meat products, meaning our customers can be confident they are buying the best in Irish meat, while also supporting local Irish suppliers.

Our long-term partnerships with producers like Anthony Moran are key to delivering on our strategy of fresh food leadership.

Lamb, Farmer, Kepak, Ronan Collins

Farmer Anthony Moran and Ronan Collins, Kepak Lamb Procurement Manager

Moran strives to supply Supervalu with the highest quality of new-season Irish spring lamb.

“Over the years, my relationship with Supervalu has gone from strength to strength and I look forward to continuing this partnership long into the future,” he said.

Supervalu claims to source its produce from over 2,200 Irish suppliers; a figure it believes to be more than any other grocery retailer in the Irish market.

According to the retailer, 75% of everything on the shelves of Supervalu’s 219 stores around the country is sourced in Ireland.

Its activity in the market equates to an annual economic contribution of €2.19 billion, it added. As well as this, Supervalu believes that it continues to command the grocery market in terms of meat quality, with more in-store expert butchers than other retailers.