Tesco’s category director Steve Murrells stressed the importance of commitment to long-term relationships with British growers, in a speech to delegates at Horticulture Focus 2004.
Murrells said that the store has a commitment to its customers to provide value for money, but it cannot afford to drive prices down at the expense of the growers and suppliers.
He also said that customers want locally-sourced produce wherever possible. “We stock over 7,000 local lines, and we have spoken to Welsh growers about growing leeks for our Welsh stores. Another success are our cauliflowers which are grown in Cornwall,” he said.
Murrells also outlined what Tesco wants from its suppliers and growers. He said: “Our suppliers must be customer-focused and we want them to be pushing our buying team. It is also important that we have growers who are socially and environmentally aware. This is why farm assurance schemes are important. Schemes such as Nature’s Choice helps the industry move forward as a whole and there is a growing percentage of consumers interested in the environment.”
The category director pointed out that change is often difficult to implement in the industry but it has its benefits. He said: “Change isn’t comfortable for a lot of people. Those people who are happy to change will be successful.”
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