Fresh produce suppliers want more collaboration with retailers and a stronger sense of a joint approach, one industry stakeholder has said.
Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association (BGA), called for better relationships between supermarkets and producers during a Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum in central London yesterday (17 March).
He said suppliers would like more understanding of respective positions and a better sense of working together to serve the interests of the customer.
“There is an issue of confidence among UK producers who feel that the supply chain needs to change in order for confidence to be restored. Greater trust between supplier and retailer would allow both sides to deliver a better retail experience.
“Growers want to feel on the same side as the retailer as they believe that, as a team, they can deliver the optimum customer proposition.'
Ward praised the UK produce industry as having “great natural advantages and great people”,but warned that it needs more collaboration to take advantage of these opportuntities.
“Everyone I talk to is aware of the challenges facing the UK retail sector. There is a strong sense that if the supply chain is going to succeed there needs to be a much stronger partnership from retailers to producers,' he said.
“The real goal is winning customers and a team working together is more likely to succeed than one working against itself.”
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