Tesco today announced it would open 6 new regional buying offices to increase local sourcing and make it easier for small producers to sell goods through the UK's leading supermarket.
The announcement marks the first time that any UK supermarket has opened nation-wide regional buying offices and will result in hundreds of new local lines being stocked.
The move, which is a huge boost for small suppliers across the UK, was announced by Richard Brasher, the Commercial Director for Tesco, at Tesco's first regional roadshow.
He addressed an audience of around 100 local Cornish producers gathered in Padstow to show off their wares to Tesco's senior buying teams with the hope of getting their regional lines stocked.
He said: "We know our customers want to be able to buy more regional products. We also know that smaller suppliers have sometimes found it hard to approach the supermarkets in the past. We want to solve both these issues.
"By opening regional buying officeswithdedicated teams on the ground, we willachieve this and stock more local lines for our customers.
"We will also do more to promote them to customers including regional counters, improved promotional material in stores and a website that will allow them to recommend their favourite regional products to us."
The retailer has now begun the process of recruiting regional food experts from across England and Wales. The regional teams will have buying and marketing managers as well as technical and merchandising support and willbe based within the region they are looking after.
Richard Brasher said: "We are looking for passionate people who know and love their region and its specialities."
The National Farmers Union welcomed the announcement. NFU Head ...