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‘More of our own, more from local suppliers’, Morrisons backs British suppliers

Morrisons is aiming to recruit more than 200 new local food suppliers following a new report calling for the UK to be more self-sufficient in food production.

Headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain is inviting foodmakers to pitch for their place in its supermarkets via a series of 12 regional events starting in Yorkshire on 14th March.

Published today (17 Feb) by leading experts on global food issues led by Professor Tim Benton, from the University of Leeds, the report says that only half (52%) of food eaten in the UK comes from our farmers.

Andy Higginson, Chairman of Morrisons, said: “Our customers tell us they want to see more food that is made just down the road from their own communities and that’s why we are looking for the next generation of British and local foodmakers to serve our 12 million customers.

“We want small UK food suppliers to become bigger ones – the Innocent Smoothies of tomorrow – and we also want to give our customers the option of more food that meets their local food tastes.”

“Morrisons is already British farming’s biggest single customer and the publication of the report today from Professor Benton makes us more determined to produce more of our food and source more from local British suppliers.”

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