The Co-op has unveiled plans to extend its offering of British meat to shoppers.
The supermarket chain has pledged to make sure all its own-brand fresh bacon and lamb is 100% British from May 1, 2017.
The retailer already uses British produce for its own-brand fresh beef, chicken, pork and turkey ranges, and British meat is used in all its chilled ready meals, pies and sandwiches.
The change in meat sourcing is part of a three-year plan to invest a minimum of £1.5billion sourcing UK meat and vegetables.
The Co-op’s retail chief executive, Steve Murrells, said: “We are a major supporter of British farming. This move is a first for a major food retailer and will see us invest millions more into sourcing home produced goods.”
Defra secretary of state, Andrea Leadsom, praised the move and said it was a “real vote of confidence in our farmers and an industry that is the bedrock of our economy”.
Both NFU Scotland (NFUS) and the National Pig Association (NPA) were also in praise of the plans.
NFUS food and supply chain policy manager, John Armour, said: “With Brexit negotiations on the horizon we believe that now is an important time for retailers to improve their sourcing policies and show their commitment to Scottish food and farming.”
NPA chief executive, Zoe Davies, added: “It’s important retailers do more than rollout the bunting in their aisles to support UK farming and switching to home-produced bacon is the strongest move a retailer can make.”