Research carried out by Tesco shows that more of its customers want to buy locally sourced food and drink and need more assistance when it comes to locating them.
In order to help its customers locate quality Welsh produce, Tesco is today (26 January) launching new signage in 29 superstores and 15 Tesco Extra stores right across Wales (full list under Notes to Editors).
Six award-winning True Taste producers, a Welsh Assembly Government brand, have been selected to feature on the new signage which will feature on shelves up and down the country. They include Edwards of Conwy, Brains Brewery, Cadog, First Milk, Tomos Watkin and South Caernarfon Creameries.
The Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, says, “One of the priorities of the Welsh Assembly Government is to make it easier for consumers to buy food and drink produced in Wales, and this new signage will significantly help in achieving that goal.
“Local sourcing of food and drink is one of our priorities as set out in One Wales and the Local Sourcing Action Plan. The Plan aims to support local food and drink producers as well as assisting them in their efforts to access local markets. The Plan also aims to help Wales maintain high standards in food safety, develop local food cultures and reduce “food miles”.”
The signage, which is of post-card size, will include some background information and a photograph of each producer along with the True Taste logo.
Mark Grant, Tesco’s Senior Buying Manager for Wales, explains, “These producers are producing award winning products that carry the True Taste logo, which are recognised by consumers and the food and drink industry as a sign of excellence.
“Our customer research tells us that people are increasingly looking out for regional and local produce and we are delighted to be able to offer them a wide range of local Welsh products.”
Statistics show that people are far more interested in food production, provenance and buying British than ever before. Research shows that 84% of customers claim they would buy more locally sourced products if made available to them in supermarkets and that 32% of people view local food as a way to take positive steps for the environment. Tesco launched a local sourcing initiative in 2008 and has 450 regional products in its Welsh stores.
For more information, please contact the Welsh Assembly Government’s Food Promotion PR Manager Esther Eckley on 03000 622174 or esther.eckley@cymru.gsi.gov.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
Tesco Extra and Superstores displaying new signage:
SUPERSTORES
Abergele
Aberdare
Ammanford
Barry
Bridgend
Cardigan
Caernarfon South Rd
Chepstow
Ebbw Vale
Hollywell
Holyhead
Llandudno Junction
Mold
Maesteg
Milford Haven
Neath Abbey
Newport, Gwent
Pembroke Dock
Penarth
Pontardawe
Pontypool
Port Talbot East Bank
Porthmadog
Pontypridd
Ruthin
St Mellons
Swansea Marina
Ystrad Mynach
Caerphilly
TESCO EXTRA
Location
Bangor
Bridgend
Carmarthen
Cardiff
Cardiff Pengam
Chester Broughton
Culverhouse Cross
Haverfordwest
Llanelli
Merthyr Tydfil Beacon
Newport Gwent
Swansea Fforestfach
Swansea Llansamlet
Talbot Green
Wrexham
For more information about Welsh food and drink in general go to: www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk
For more information about the products in Tesco please contact:
Edwards of Conwy
18 High St,
Conwy,
N. Wales,
LL32 8DE
Contact: Ieuan Edwards
Tel: 01492 592443 or 01492 576800 Mobile 07803 498 326
Email: sales@welshsausages.co.uk also sales@edwardsofconwy.co.uk
Website: www.welshsausages.co.uk also www.edwardsofconwy.co.uk
Tomos Watkin
The Kingsway
Fforestfach Industrial Estate
Kingsway
Swansea
SA5 4DL
Tel: 01792 560020
Email: beer@hurns.co.uk
Web: www.hurnsbeer.co.uk
South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd
Rhydygwystl
Pwllheli
Gwynedd
LL53 6SB
Tel: 01766 810251
E-mail: info@sccwales.co.uk
Website: www.sccwales.co.uk
Contact: Angharad Jones
Brains Brewery
Head Office
SA Brain & Co Ltd
The Cardiff Brewery
Crawshay Street
Cardiff
CF10 1SP
Tel: 02920 402060
E-mail: sab-enquiries@sabrain.com
Cadog
Llandyrnog Creamery
Denbighshire
LL16 4HH
Tel: 01824 790215
Contact: Mr Jim Grieve, Manager
First Milk Cheese Co Ltd
Merlins Bridge
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 1JN
Tel: 01437 762852
E-mail: michaelwalker@firstmilk.co.uk