Portaferry breakfast cereal firm’s deal with discount store Aldi

Portaferry breakfast cereal firm’s deal with discount store Aldi

24 April 2019

A PORTAFERRY firm has won significant business in the Republic of Ireland with leading German discounter Aldi for an innovative product range.

Just Live a Little, which produces handcrafted granola breakfast cereals and healthy snacks, is owned and managed by the husband and wife team of David and Jill Crawford.

The firm, which is now one of Northern Ireland’s most successful smaller businesses in export markets, exporting to international markets in Asia and many parts of Europe, will be supplying its new granola trail mixes to 130 Aldi stores across the Republic.

The business is the latest to join the supermarket’s innovative Grow with Aldi scheme which is designed to assist smaller producers in the Republic and Northern Ireland expand business.

Aldi has listed two of the Portaferry company’s new Trail Mixes, a healthy and convenient snack product. The two snacks are Plant Protein and Smart Energy, with the range also including salted chocolate.

Jill, who is the company’s commercial director, says everyone is excited to be included in the Grow with Aldi scheme which will see its two new snack products available across the Republic which she described as an “important and developing market for us”.

She continued: “The granola trail mixes are new to the market, with the plant protein vegan and the smart energy vegetarian both packed with protein.

“Smart energy is a vegetarian mix which is high in fibre and packed with protein. It features whole almonds, coconut chips, pumpkin seeds and sultanas that release energy when needed.”

Jill explained that the plant protein contains the Portaferry firm’s latest innovative ingredient, pea protein crispies, with the savoury mix completely vegan with protein that “packs a punch and lots of crunch”.

Jill added: “The new products are on trend with the growing demand for healthier snacks on the go, particularly for children and young people. They are based on our longstanding expertise in granola cereals.”

Representing an investment of around £500,000, Grow with Aldi has been designed to help small to medium Irish food and drink businesses secure a retail listing.

Grow with Aldi is a major feature of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to sourcing as many Irish products as possible. Last year Aldi spent over £500m with Irish food businesses.

While it doesn’t have any stores in Northern Ireland, Aldi sources food from many smaller producers in the Province such as Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt in Bangor, Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Kircubbin, Prep House Sauces, Crossgar and Whites Oats in Tandragee.