The Irish Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Iverk Produce has signed a deal to provide Aldi with €70m worth of Irish-grown potatoes over three years.

Under the new agreement, Iverk Produce will supply Aldi’s 129 stores in ireland with 27,000 tonnes of locally-grown rooster, white and salad potatoes annually, representing a significant increase in the quantities Iverk Produce currently supplies to Aldi’s stores.

Based in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, Iverk Produce employs over 190 people from the local community full-time, in addition to a further 30-40 seasonal workers.

All its potatoes are sourced from 30 Bord Bia approved growers predominantly in the South East of Ireland.

The company has partnered with Aldi since the retailer first entered the Irish market in 1999.

Commenting on the announcement, John O’Shea of Iverk Produce said that the security provided by the partnership with Aldi has enabled the company to invest and substantially grow its business over the last two decades.

John O’Shea of Iverk Produce:

"We are delighted to have agreed a new contract with Aldi to continue to supply its stores with the very best in Bord Bia approved Irish grown potatoes.”

The agreement follows Aldi’s recent announcement that it is investing €60m in its ‘Project Fresh’ future stores concept over the next five years as it aims to bring more fresh food to more customers.

Finbar McCarthy, Aldi’s group buying director:

"We work with over 175 Irish suppliers and our long-term relationships with suppliers like Iverk Produce ensures we can provide our customers the very best in locally-sourced Irish produce day-in, day-out."

Last year the O'Shea family of farmers, who have a dairy farm as well as growing fruit and vegetables, were recipients of over €240,000 in EU direct payments.