British retailers have changed their cherry supply arrangements for the coming season, with M&S and Sainsbury’s both adjusting contracts.
J.O. Sims said it had taken over the entire M&S contract for imported cherries and Sainsbury’s has opted to go direct to growers for a portion of its cherry imports, while keeping on J.O. Sims as a supplier.
“We’ve got a lot of extra business and we’re pretty comfortable with it,” said Darren Matschull of J.O. Sims. “The retailers have consolidated their supply arrangements so it should make for a closer working relationship between them and their suppliers.”
As reported by FPJ, Sainsbury’s supply switch appears to be part of a wider strategy to source as much as 75 per cent of each product group in fresh produce directly from growers, with the remaining 25 per cent managed by a single importer.
The process has begun with fruit, avocados and potatoes, but is expected to continue across other fresh produce categories in a later phases.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We review our product ranges and ways of working on a regular basis, making sure can continue to provide our customers with the very best quality and value.”
J.O. Sims is best known for its expertise in the fresh cherry market, supplying regional wholesale markets, retailers, restaurants and foodservice customers.
The company reported that most of the work done by growers recently has centred on increasing fruit size. “We’re selling larger fruit in M&S when we can and Sainsbury’s are selling larger fruit than they did a couple of years ago,” said Matschull.
Two of the most popular varieties sold by British retailers at the moment are the large, dark and sweet Regina and Kordia cherries, which are cultivated by most British growers.
M&S were unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
For the full report on Sainsbury's supply changes see the 21 April issue of the Fresh Produce Journal.
