The UK's leading retailer Tesco has this week revealed that it has become the country's biggest seller of homegrown apples and pears, taking the top spot away from previous holder Sainsbury's.
Through the last 12 months, the retailer said that it had increased its intake of UK-grown apples and pears, leading to a boost in volume sales of 34 per cent, ahead of the market average across all retailers (4 per cent growth).
In a news release, Tesco said that the move was part of a concerted effort to work closely with growers and packers to 'revitalise' the UK topfruit industry.
'Our customers tell us they want homegrown apples and pears and proved that in the last year after we considerably raised our intake volume of the UK crop which was eagerly snapped up,' said Tesco fruit category director Nick Tatum.
'Credit must go to our growers and packers who have supported us in realising this achievement,' he added. 'This is great news for the UK's apple and pear industry and the increasing demand will hopefully give new confidence to growers.'
According to the group, the latest supermarket sales for homegrown apples and pears see Tesco on top with 31,408 tonnes, followed by Sainsbury's (31,325 tonnes), Morrisons (17,622 tonnes), Asda (12,747 tonnes) and Waitrose (9,864 tonnes).
One of Tesco's initiatives to support the UK topfruit industry in the last year was the launch of four new apple varieties, Sonya, Evelina, Opal and Pirouette.
The retailer said the results were further proof of the 'renaissance' of the British apple industry.
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