Tesco is aiming to increase its volume of Supasweet onions fivefold for next season, according to buyer Roy Maynard.
The variety, which was launched three years ago by a consortium of UK growers, has been acclaimed as the mildest available, based on piruvate tests developed by the University of Liverpool.
The onions will be supplied by G’s Growers, one of the largest vegetable and salad groups in the UK.
G’s was set up as a producer organisation in 1984 and since then it has grown from 229 hectares to 1,459ha and links 14 onion growers with a geographical spread around Ely, Thetford, Methwold, Woodbridge and Norwich.
Aside from Supasweet, it also supplies Tesco with brown, red and organic onions. Overall the retailer is hoping to achieve a 10 per cent increase in supply this season, to 38,000 tonnes.
Part of this will be aided by the introduction of a year-round Value pack to the onion category.
G’s, which is in the process of adding an extra 12,500t capacity to its storage facilities, said it is also conducting research on brown onions, looking for ways to extend the UK season.
As a result, next year’s season begins a week earlier, on August 1 using new sett varieties. l
