Young Cork entrepreneur’s food company signs €1 million ALDI deal

A young Cork entrepreneur’s company has signed a contract worth €1 million with supermarket chain ALDI.

Founded by Ballydesmond man Matthew Collins (26) in 2018, The Sibly Food Co. has signed a 12 month contract to supply ALDI’s 161 Irish stores with its popular Energy Balls product.

The deal could see three additional jobs created at the company, which Matthew laid the foundations for when he started making his own homemade energy balls and bringing them to college lectures at the age of 21.

After classmates encouraged him to sell his produce, Matthew set up a stall at a Christmas Market in Kanturk where his energy balls proved a big hit with customers and his business has grown hugely since then.

The founder of the healthy food company applied for the ‘Grow with ALDI’ programme in 2022 and was selected as one of five winners of the supplier development programme, which saw him get mentorship as he scaled his production and have his products stocked in ALDI stores.

Since then, Matthew’s Sibly Food Co. has supplied ALDI and other stores with its range of handmade energy balls and won a silver medal at the Blas na hÉireann Awards.

Speaking about the new ALDI deal, Matthew said his company was “delighted” to sign the contract and continue its partnership with ALDI.

“They have offered me such valuable support and mentorship since I entered Grow with ALDI in 2022 and have been instrumental in helping The Sibly Food Co. grow and expand in a sustainable way, “ Matthew said.

“This kind of support is invaluable to a small Irish business, and I’ll be forever grateful for the platform they’ve provided for me.

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ALDI and bringing great value, healthy snacks to stores across Ireland.

“At present we have seven employees, and we hope to hire three new staff as a result of ALDI’s investment which is huge for us.

Matthew has also encouraged small business owners who were once like him to back themselves and enter the 2024 Grow with ALDI programme.

“The Sibly Food Co. is proof of what a brilliant showcase it is for new and emerging businesses, and I cannot recommend it enough!”

The new ALDI deal will see The Sibley Food Co. supply its Energy Balls in Classic Nut Butter and Cacao & Butter flavours to the German retail brand and it will also host Special buy products in limited edition flavours.

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