Aldi will sell more than 1,500t of Irish-grown Bord Bia quality assured strawberries this year across its 145 Irish stores, representing an increase of 15% on 2020.

Sunglow Nurseries based in Rush, Co Dublin, is supplying Aldi’s Irish strawberries and has invested €1.2m in a new 0.7ha extension of its glasshouse facilities.

The new glasshouse extension will see Sunglow Nurseries introduce a series of sustainable production processes across its operations.

Rainwater collection

All rainwater from the glasshouse roof will be collected and reused to irrigate the plants, while up to 25% of carbon emissions from the heating system will be captured and pumped back into the glasshouse to help plant growth, reducing the grower’s carbon footprint.

It will result in increased output capacity of 17%, creating 10 new jobs.

Irish produce

Aldi group buying director John Curtin said: “For Aldi shoppers, buying Irish produce is always their first choice.

"We are delighted to offer Irish strawberries and to be working with Sunglow Nurseries, as their strawberries are always of the highest quality.”

Sunglow Nurseries director John McGuinness added: “We’re delighted to open our new state-of-the-art glasshouse and to continue supplying Aldi Ireland with Bord Bia quality assured strawberries.

“The majority of our business is with Aldi and, as a result of Aldi’s ongoing custom, we have been able to invest in a new environmentally friendly glasshouse which has helped us increase our production.”