UK supermarket chain Morrisons is aiming to increase the number of English, Welsh and Scottish suppliers it uses in response to findings that almost half of food consumed in the UK is imported.
A new scheme aims to recruit more than 200 new British suppliers in its first year. Morrisons said its buyers will host a number of regional supplier days throughout the year where producers will be able to pitch their products.
“The search will result in more customers being able to buy more food in a British supermarket that was grown, made, picked or packaged within 30-60 miles of their local store,” said Morrisons.
Morrisons has latched on to the fact that sales of local produce in their stores have increased by more than half since 2016.
Moves like this by UK multiples show the wisdom of Irish and Northern Irish suppliers setting up bases in England to maintain supply chains as we approach Brexit.
