Lidl is bringing back the soft drink McDaid's Football Special next week.
The drink will feature special edition artwork to celebrate this year’s ladies’ Gaelic football season.
The beverage, which was launched through the chain's Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, sold out in record time when it first hit the shelves.
The Kickstart programme offers small producers a unique opportunity to get their products on Lidl store shelves and benefit from the market leading retailer’s dedicated support.
Since 2017, Lidl has invested more than €37m in the programme, supporting more than 300 small and medium-sized food and drink producers to grow their businesses.
Football Special is a family-owned soft drinks company based in Ramelton, Donegal which has been operating since 1940.
The drink was created to celebrate the many successes of local Football Club, Swilly Rovers, where players are known for “filling the cup” with the bubbly non-alcoholic soft drink to toast the team.
A second release of the drink was rolled out across Lidl stores in March, in time for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Lidl shoppers can get their hands on 1L original Football Special bottles featuring the ladies’ Gaelic football artwork for just €1.79 / £1.49 on promotional release in-store from Thursday 26th June.
The launch is to coincide with the LGFA knockout stages, and again from Thursday 31st July ahead of the TG4 All-Ireland Championship Finals.
For the first time the popular drink will also be available in 330ml cans, priced €1.19.
Kevin Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said: “Football Special is a perfect example of how a local Irish producer can benefit from Lidl’s Kickstart programme and achieve real success.
"It’s great to see such a well-loved local drink score new fans right across Ireland and we’re expecting another sell-out run when it returns to stores this summer.
"At Lidl, we’re hugely invested in supporting and advancing female sport through our flagship sponsorship with the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).
"As part of our ‘Get Behind the Fight’ campaign, we’re focused on elevating visibility of female players to fill every seat at every game.
Our partnership with McDaid’s to produce a special edition artwork bottle putting female players in the spotlight is another tangible example of how we can continue to promote LGFA and its players and drive further engagement and support amongst our shoppers and communities across the country.
"We’re thrilled to relist this popular product just as the LGFA season gets into full swing and leading up leading up to thrilling All-Ireland Championship Finals in August.”
Seamus McDaid, Managing Director at McDaid’s said: “Since participating in Lidl’s Kickstart programme, our business has grown exponentially, and we’re thrilled to secure our third listing with Lidl.
"Working with a major retailer like Lidl has been incredible for building our brand reaching new audiences and we’re delighted that it has been so popular with Lidl shoppers.
"Football Special was born out of our love for football and pride in supporting our local team and players. Lidl Ireland is synonymous with its support for women’s sport and Gaelic football, so this new listing offered us the perfect opportunity to combine our shared passion for sport and community to develop a unique label promoting ladies’.
"Gaelic football as we build up to the TG4 All-Ireland Championship Finals.
"It’s a great way to tell the story of the heritage of Football Special whilst supporting the current stars of the pitch and bringing the upcoming TG4 All-Ireland Championship Finals into the homes and hearts of even more supporters, old and new!”
