NFU Scotland’s campaign to secure greater sales of Scottish produce through our major supermarket stores continues to gather momentum.
Last week, the Union used the Royal Highland Show as a platform to meet with representatives of Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, the Co-operative, Marks & Spencer and Aldi.
At these meetings, it detailed the impact that ongoing food price deflation is having at a farm level with low market returns in virtually every sector challenging profitability on many Scottish farms.
The Union used its meeting with Tesco to reiterate its deep concerns about the use of fictional farm brands for marketing purposes and urged the retailer to respect consumer demands and to get behind clearly-labelled, fresh local produce instead.
Earlier this year, NFU Scotland’s Shelfwatch work looking at pork found Tesco and Asda both had significant amounts of imported produce on shelves at a time when greater support for Scottish and British pork was badly needed. At the Royal Highland Show, Asda assured the Union that they are moving towards sourcing and selling more Specially Selected Pork from Scotland which will be welcome news for the nation’s hard-pressed pig producers.
Looking further ahead, the outcome of the European referendum brings a sharp focus to retailer support for Scottish produce in the future. As part of NFU Scotland’s work programme on Brexit, engagement with retailers is a key strand.
Speaking following the retailer meetings at Royal Highland Show, NFU Scotland Vice President Andrew McCornick said: “We have made good progress in our continuing discussions with retailers with some positive results for Scottish farmers and crofters.
“With peak lamb season approaching, our campaign to increase the sale of domestic lamb looks to be gathering pace. We have now had commitments from Marks & Spencer’s, the Co-op and Sainsbury’s to extend their season for exclusively home produced lamb. That builds on the year-round commitment to Scottish or British lamb from the likes of Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl and we will continue to discuss with Tesco and Asda on how they can improve Scottish lamb sales.
“The move by Asda to buy and sell more Specially Selected Pork is also good news and we will continue to push the message of Scottish quality with retailers.
“In light of the new political landscape we find ourselves in following last week’s referendum, it is clear that more must be done to build a supply chain which benefits Scottish food and farming in the face of a more uncertain future.
“Retailers have to recognise the sustainable characteristics of the food produced here in Scotland, and further co-operation is necessary if we are to build the resilience of our industry so that it remains a reliable source of safe, tasty and nutritious food in an ever-changing world.”