Welsh Assembly Government Activity With Supermarkets To Promote Local Sourcing

The Assembly Government through the Food and Market Development Division is in close and pro-active contact with Supermarkets on a Regional and National basis. The major supermarkets have a dominant position with 78% of the grocery market and are an important market channel for Welsh food producers

The Retailer Development Programme has been designed to meet the needs of supermarkets in terms of identifying new local suppliers and in the co-ordination of meet the buyer events.

A full review has been undertaken of local food lines listed in Welsh supermarkets. Morrisons will be launching a new range of 22 Chilled Welsh lines over the next few weeks as a result of activity. Tesco has announced an undertaking to increase the number of local lines and contact has been made to progress. Arrangements have been made to review Welsh lines with ASDA in November and work is on-going with Waitrose, Sainsbury and Somerfield.

The Supplier Development Programme is designed to work with food producers to develop their skills and ability to compete in this and other channels to market.
The programme consists of a series of seminars under Going for Growth and one to one mentoring and support through the True Marketing programme. In 2005 50 food producers participated in the programme.

Trade Development activity generated £5,700,000 in business opportunities, during 2005-06, creating 118 jobs as well as safeguarding 532.

The True Taste Awards and the Food Festival Grant funding programme increase consumer awareness of the availability of locally sourced products.

6th October 2006