Sainsbury's has launched a supplier development programme aimed at small companies in Wales. The supermarket giant has designed the scheme for businesses that have never worked with the company before, or which have sales of less than £30,000 a year with the firm.
The 12-week programme, which aims to help further develop their businesses, is being run in conjunction with the Welsh Development Agency (WDA). It aims to address practical issues such as ordering and delivery, paperwork required before supply, and minimum technical requirements.
A bus to promote home-grown potatoes which was set up outside a supermarket has been handing out Israeli spuds. Farmers are said to be outraged that the rival potatoes are being promoted on their doorstep.
The British Potato Council's bus was spotted in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, distributing potatoes from the Middle East - despite its mission statement to promote British produce. The Council is supported by levies paid by potato traders to finance research and promote their own produce.
In a statement, BPC chief executive Helen Priestley said she was extremely concerned that the bus had been used to promote potatoes of Israeli origin. The bus, caught distributing the rival potatoes outside an Asda supermarket, was on hire to Fens-based vegetable firm Fenmarc.
Ms Priestley said: "It has been brought to my attention that on June 3, potatoes of Israeli origin were served as samples from the British Potato Council's promotional bus while it was being used by a third party. "I am shocked and disappointed that these companies took this course of action, given their stated commitment to British farming.
"The matter has, of course, been discussed with them at a senior level and Fenmarc has formally apologised for the oversight that led to this local error of judgment.
"The circumstances have been fully investigated and immediate action is being taken to ensure it will not happen again."
Ethical trading has its costs but for one supplier to Tesco it's not a fair price. The supermarket giant is demanding a payment of £278 per year from all primary suppliers to cover the costs of its compliance with the Ethical Trading Initiative. In a letter to The Grocer, the anonymous complainant said that suppliers would be wary of approaching the Office of Fair Trading because of the risk to their business.
"This latest charge is per site, which is unfair to smaller suppliers who may serve a number of sites. Larger companies may only have one site, and won't miss £69.50 a quarter".
Tesco's letter was dated 13 May and informed suppliers that the new payment regime would come into force on 18th May. They also maintain that as one of the founding members of the ETI, they work in partnership with suppliers to "develop and improve standards in the supply chain".
A spokeswoman for the initiative said the matter was being taken up with Tesco as part of ongoing discussions over its membership.
The UK organic industry could potentially be wiped out as the result of commercial production of GM crops, according to the Soil Association's policy director Peter Melchett. Organic standards forbid GM ingredients to a tolerance of 0.1%, potentially devastating for organic farmers who could face being decertified for 5 years should cross-pollination take place.
Melchett did see commercial GM production as a catalyst for growth in the organic market, so long as cross-contamination was limited; however, he has huge concerns.
"We face some really key decisions. It's not a joke if you are an organic farmer. Some are very frightened indeed"
If production does become widespread it could see the UK relying on imports from Austria, Denmark and Sweden with bodies like the SA reduced to policing imports.
Suppliers in Yorkshire and Lancashire could receive a boost to their income with the news that Asda is planning to target niche producers in the latest phase of its two year old 'local sourcing plan'. Asda local choice manager, Karen Todd, said "We ask customers what they want and then ask our buyers to find suppliers"
Cornwall was the first region to experience the Asda treatment, followed by Scotland where the supermarket now works with 200 small suppliers. Todd also said that Asda have lowered the bar for local suppliers by simplifying paperwork and offering reduced payment terms.
