Reporting to Group Managing Director, Niall O’Connor, Regional Managing Director Colin Breslin, has been appointed to the new role of Managing Director of Buying and Services Ireland.
ALDI Ireland operates two distribution centres in Ireland, managing its extensive network of stores throughout the country, and a corporate office based in Naas, Co. Kildare.
Taking up his new role from this week, Colin will be based at the National Buying office in Naas, Co. Kildare.
Having joined the business in 2003 as an Area Manager, he has worked in several different roles in the ALDI business over the space of nearly 20 years, including Store Operations Director (both in ALDI Ireland and GB) before assuming a Regional Managing Director position in 2015.
In his new role he will take responsibility for the Buying department in Ireland alongside Marketing and Communications, National Real Estate, Human Resources as well as some other service functions. This is a further investment in Irish sourcing by ALDI, who will buy over €1.1 billion worth of Irish products this year.
ALDI Ireland recently announced detail of a recruitment campaign to hire 360 new people in the first quarter of 2023. The retailer became the first supermarket to adopt the new recommended Living Wage on 1 February, increasing its minimum pay to €13.85 per hour.
Commenting, Group Managing Director, Niall O’Connor said that the company’s success in Ireland is driven by its business model, value proposition, vast store network across the country and most importantly, its dedicated and talented team.
“At a time of rising inflation and a cost crisis severely impacting customers, having experienced people leading the business and guiding our teams has never been more important. In Colin, we have a wealth of retail experience and leadership, and he will continue to support and drive our business forward, and particularly, our value promise to our customers at this time.
People are a strategic focus and priority for our business and Colin has played a key role at ALDI for almost 20 years, and I wish him well in his new role as he continues to guide teams in supporting our customers to weather this inflationary storm.
For our customers delivering value continues to be our top priority.”
