Sainsbury’s makes new ‘more will be grown in UK’ promise for 3 things | UK | News

Sainsbury’s will stock more UK-grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. The move comes as a way to counter global supply chain pressures. The supermarket giant has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with suppliers Evesham Vale Growers and Thanet Earth.

The supermarket’s decision was prompted by the increase in hot weather prompting it to “think outside the box”. In July, The Times reported that the retail giant sent customers a cucumber shortage warning. Extreme heat has hit growers in Spain and Morocco, prompting the supermarket to inform customers of the impact on vegetables.

British food production is also being hurt by dry weather, reports suggest General store.

Hannah O’Reilly, Sainsbury’s produce category director, said: “With our changing weather patterns, it’s more important than ever to find new, innovative solutions to ensure our customers can continue to enjoy the quality products they want all year round.”

He added: “Giving our brilliant British growers the certainty to invest and innovate through long-term contracts such as those with Thanet Earth and Evesham Vale Growers will help us continue to support British farming for years to come.”

Evesham Vale Growers director Paul Faulkner said: “Having the confidence and certainty that comes with a long-term agreement allows us to look to the future and invest in our business, increasing the number of British-grown tomatoes currently on Sainsbury’s shelves, increasing availability and enabling customers to enjoy more British-grown produce.”

Retail Times reported that the new agreements are among the longest in the industry and are designed to give British growers the certainty they need to invest for the long term at a time when the industry faces rising costs, climate variability and increasing pressure on supply.

It says the deals are part of Sainsbury’s wider commitment to investing in long-term deals with thousands of British and Irish farms, giving growers the confidence to invest in the future.