Tesco results - Local Economies

Indicator 4.1 View criteria

Issue: Support for the local economy

Indicator: Company policy on sourcing food 'locally'and 'locality' foods

No data submitted.

Indicator 4.2 View criteria

Issue: Support for the local economy

Indicator: Local and regional sourcing and promotion

No data submitted.

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Indicator 4.3 View criteria

Issue: Support for the local economy

Indicator: Company policy on sourcing food 'locally' and 'locality' foods – store shelf survey

A store shelf survey of local and locality foods stocked by retailers - focusing on apples, potatoes, fresh milk, pre-packed cheese, fresh beef and fresh lamb - was conducted by Sustain and the NFWI. The final survey sample for Tesco consisted of 12 stores. This sample was smaller than desired, and had a more limited geographical coverage than desired, thereby reducing the extent to which the store survey findings can be taken as representative of the retailer’s overall performance in terms of local sourcing.

In terms of actual stocking of local and locality foods Tesco scored above slightly above average in comparison with other retailers. This result needs to be considered in the context of the relatively large size of Tesco’s stores, whichallows them to stock a wider range of food lines, including in theory more local and locality varieties, than smaller stores such as the Co-op.

None of the Tesco stores surveyed had information leaflets for customers on local food, and only 17% (2 stores) had a special in-store display for local foods.

None of the stores included in the survey had any local varieties of apples or fresh beef. Only 8% of surveyed stores (1 store) had any local potatoes, local milk or local lamb. Only 17% of stores (2 stores) had local cheese.

Of the Tesco stores surveyed, far more had locality varieties of these foods. 33% of the stores had locality apples, 83% had locality potatoes, 58% had locality milks, 92% had locality cheeses, 58% had locality fresh beef and 25% had locality fresh lamb.

In terms of average numbers of varieties of the local foods stocked, there were on average only 1 local milk variety, 0.89 local cheese varieties, 1 local potato variety and 1.67 local fresh lamb varieties. Average number of varieties of locality versions of these foods were slightly higher: 1.1 varieties of locality apples, 2.6 varieties of locality potatoes, 1.6 varieties of locality milk, 5.5 varieties of locality cheese, 2.4 varieties of locality fresh beef and 3.16 varieties of locality fresh lamb.

To score more highly, more in-store information on local food to consumers would be provided in more stores, more local foods would be stocked in more stores and a far better selection of locality foods would be available for consumers to choose from.

Overall commentary and examples of good practice

No data submitted.

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Supermarket comments

No comments were provided.

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