Aldi has joined Lidl in rejecting claims made by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in an advertisement that appeared in national media yesterday (Sunday, March 14).
In the advertisement, the IFA said that Aldi and Lidl were marketing their milk under the names of “creameries and dairies that don’t exist”.
Also Read: IFA responds to ‘legal threats’ from LidlFollowing a rejection of the ad by Lidl, Aldi has now done likewise.
John Curtin, group buying director for Aldi Ireland, said in a statement to AgriLand that “100% of Aldi’s Clonbawn branded milk and cream is sourced from Republic of Ireland farms”.
The majority of our milk is processed in the Republic of Ireland and carries the NDC [National Diary Council] mark but as some of our milk is packed in Omagh [Co. Tyrone], it therefore cannot carry the NDC mark.
Curtin went on to say that the retailer has “long-standing relationships” with liquid milk processors in Ireland, citing Arrabawn, Strathroy, Lakeland and, “more recently”, Aurivo, highlighting that Aldi had recently agreed a €3.3 million contract with Aurivo to supply milk in Leinster and Ulster stores.
Curtin concluded his remarks by saying: “We pay a fair price to all of our suppliers, including our dairy processors”.
IFA stands over ad
Following comments from a Lidl spokesperson who said that the IFA’s ad was “misleading and possibly defamatory” and that the ad was being examined by the retailer’s legal team, IFA president Tim Cullinan stood by the content of the ad.
Cullinan asserted: “Everything in the advert is 100% accurate.
“Instead of threats and bluster, Lidl and Aldi should give an immediate commitment to discontinue this labelling strategy and display the names of the actual dairies that supply them on their label,” he said.
The IFA president went on to claim: “In general, retailers are trying to destroy farmer-owned brands by creating their own labels. Suggesting that the milk is produced by creameries and dairies which don’t actually exist is completely misleading and we fully stand over the advert.”