Ritter Sport, the German chocolate brand known for its signature square format and commitment to taste and innovation, has appointed Richmond Marketing as its exclusive distributor in Ireland, marking a major step in its continued UK and Irish expansion strategy.
The announcement comes as Ritter Sport accelerates growth across the British Isles, with Ireland identified as a high-priority market thanks to its strong per-capita chocolate consumption and dynamic retail landscape.
“This partnership means opportunity”, explains Benedict Daniels, Managing Director of Ritter Sport UK. “It signals a new phase of brand development in Ireland – a market we see as crucial to our long-term growth. Our vision is simple: wherever consumers are buying chocolate, from convenience stores to large format retailers, we want Ritter Sport and Amicelli to be present, accessible, and in demand.
“Richmond’s track record in aggressively scaling premium brands made them a natural partner. They’re data-driven, category-led, and culturally aligned with how we operate in the UK. Barry Connolly’s experience, particularly the success with Fulfil, left us in no doubt about Richmond’s ability to grow our brand’s visibility in Ireland. With their infrastructure, team, and strategic mindset, Ireland can be a principal growth driver for our business in the next five years.”
Founded in 1992, Richmond Marketing has a long-standing reputation for building innovative food and beverage brands in the Irish market, with a portfolio that has included Red Bull, Peroni, Kopparberg and more recently, Fulfil.
Barry Connolly, Managing Director of Richmond Marketing, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: “I’ve personally been a fan of Ritter Sport for 20 years – I love the shape, the design, the taste. It’s truly different from everything else on the market. We built a strong confectionery capability off the back of Fulfil and this partnership adds a premium global chocolate brand to our growing portfolio.
“If you want to build a brand in Ireland, you have to win in convenience retailing. Ireland is the second-highest market in the world for grocery purchases through convenience formats – only behind Taiwan. Visibility in convenience is critical, and that’s an area where Richmond excels.”
With distribution beginning this summer, the focus will be on building brand equity, increasing availability across all key channels, and showcasing Ritter Sport’s expanding flavour portfolio – including standout favourites like Whole Dark Chocolate and Pistachio.
This partnership marks a major milestone in Ritter Sport’s UK and Ireland strategy, combining product excellence with local expertise to unlock one of Europe’s most chocolate-loving markets.
