Lidl Ireland has agreed a €6m, two-year deal with Cork-based Hassetts Bakery to supply four of the family-run business' chilled cake and dessert products in its stores nationwide.
The Rachel H range, created by Hassetts, comprises of a vanilla and custard slice, coffee cream slice, jam and cream donut, and chocolate cream cream eclair and will be available in 175 stores as part of Lidl's everyday confectionary range.
Founder Michael Hassett established the company in Douglas, Co Cork as a wholesale bakery in 1984 after developing a passion for baking while working in Europe. By 1988, Hassetts had opened its own shop before expanding to nearby Carrigaline seven years later.
Hassetts first started supplying its handcrafted vanilla gateau product to Lidl in 2020, its first major retail contract, and the company has seen consistent growth as demand for its confectionaries has risen, resulting in the addition of eight staff.
"Through Lidl’s ongoing investment in our business, we have had the opportunity to upscale production and make substantial investments in our business operations," said Noreen Foley, business manager a Hassetts Bakery.
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"We have created new jobs in the locality and have increased our workforce with eight recent hires. We look forward to a developing this partnership into the future and have a variety of exciting new seasonal products in the pipeline."
Stephanie Walsh, senior buyer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, said the quality of Hassetts products is "a true testament to their passion to provide the best handcrafted confectionary on a daily basis".
Hassetts booked a net profit of €60,000 in the year to May 2020, according to filed accounts. Headcount was 31, unchanged from 2019, with related employment costs of c.600,000.
Hasetts has three retail shops at Douglas Court shopping centre, on Main Street in Carrigaline and at the English Market in Cork. Lidl currently has a 13.2% share of the Irish grocery market.
Photo: (l-r) Michael Hassett; Noreen Foley; Brendan Conway of Lidl, and Stephanie Walsh. (Pic: Keith Arkins Media(
