Supermarkets pledge further commitment to support Scottish produce

Aldi, Asda, The Co-Operative, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and the Scottish Retail Consortium met with Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead at the Food Retailers’ Forum and set out their support for Scottish produce. Supermarkets' commitments to Scottish food and drink included, amongst others: Asda aiming for a 47 per cent increase in sales of local food in Scotland in 2009.

The supermarket chain has also pledged to create 3,500 new jobs. Marks & Spencer sourcing over £260 million of food from Scotland, only sourcing trout from Scottish farms - highlighting much of this using the Saltire on labels Sainsbury's stocking almost 1500 Scottish lines from 138 Scottish suppliers throughout its UK stores. 

Tesco selling £2 billion of Scottish products across the UK from 150 Scottish suppliers Speaking after the Retailers' Forum, Mr Lochhead said it was a welcome opportunity to discuss how to work together. "We have successfully worked in partnership with supermarkets to encourage the sourcing of Scottish produce. We have created a Retailers' Charter and Retailers' Forum to set a common agenda. I want to see this alliance develop even further. "Supermarkets play an important role through the interface they give many consumers to the food chain. I am impressed by their commitment to Scottish food and drink; in real terms, this support for Scottish brands translates to a 21 per cent increase between May 2007 and May 2009."