The multinational Lidl retail organisation was warned yesterday by the Irish Farmers' Association that it will insist that the chain supports locally-produced food.
The warning came as the company announced it will open a series of cut-price shops throughout the State.
The IFA's dairy chairman, Mr Padraig Walshe, strongly criticised the company for its policy of importing the major part of the food products it intends to sell on the Irish market.
Mr Walshe said that the German multinational's food-sourcing policy was offensive to the rural community, especially as it was due to open a number of stores in towns across the country where the agri-food industry was the backbone of the economy.
"All indications are that the Lidl shops will carry very few Irish fresh food products, as our investigations show they will ship their requirements from foreign warehouses outside the country," he said.
"Lidl's approach is highly sensitive to the 170,000 farmers and workers employed in the Irish agri-food sector. They have a responsibility to offer Irish consumers a genuine choice of Irish food products and brands."
He warned the company that if Lidl intended to take profits out of local communities the IFA would be insisting that it support locally-produced food.
Mr Walshe said all retailers must recognise their role as outlets for the Irish food industry.
"The main food retailers have over the years shown commitment to Irish-produced goods, thereby supporting Irish jobs. Lidl, as a newcomer to the Irish market, must show the same willingness to support Irish foods and jobs," said Mr Walshe.
"The Irish Farmers' Association is determined to pursue this matter with Lidl at both local and national level," he added.
The organisation has had a series of disputes with foreign-owned food retail outlets over the sale of non-Irish produced foods in previous years.
The most high-profile incident involved IFA members removing New Zealand imported lamb from the Iceland store in Dun Laoghaire last year. Following that protest, the company withdrew the lamb from its shelves.