Tesco might be at pains to emphasise that the advent of its Group Food Sourcing division does not mean a complete revolution for the supply chain, but its plans for direct sourcing suggest otherwise.

The supermarket will be doing more individually tailored work with suppliers, eyeing up acquisitions and re-evaluating the role of suppliers and services that “have less added value or are inefficient”. Sounds like a major long-term strategy to me.

As sourcing director Darren Clough’s exclusive interview with FPJ (p1) reveals, the retailer believes growers are receptive to direct sourcing and like having the opportunity to talk directly to them.

Everything Tesco does is scrutinised in the minutest detail, and with Asda forging ahead with International Produce, it has long been expected that the UK’s biggest retailer would put its own system into place.

What that means for growers, middle men and the end consumer remains to be seen. Tesco and Asda both insist that growers will be among the key beneficiaries from the approach, and there is little doubt a major reason for it is to compete even more fiercely on the shelf price.

But where the importers and marketers fit into the new world is less clear cut. They insist decades of trusted relationships with growers around the world put them in a unique position to offer retailers an unrivalled service.

Can supermarkets expect just to set up fully-functioning arrangements almost overnight, or will they continue to rely on established and trusted partners? Only time will tell.