Big-four supermarket giant Morrisons has announced it will recruit more than 200 new British food suppliers in a bid to drive up self-sufficiency and local procurement across the UK.
Responding to a new report, carried out by Leeds University, Morrisons said it will invite local foodmakers from Scotland, England and Wales to pitch for new places on its supermarket shelves.
The university report revealed only half of food eaten in this country comes from UK farmers, while food consumed across Britain is produced by 168 different countries worldwide.
The Morrisons recruitment drive will begin on March 14 and will include a series of 12 regional pitching events – reaching Scotland during the week of June 5.
Food producers will be selected by region and the company hopes to have fresh food available in its 491 stores that was “grown, made, picked or packaged’ within a 60-mile radius of any local supermarket.
“The company has a priority of sourcing more local food and is keen to reduce the distance that food travels,” said a Morrisons spokesperson.
Food producers wishing to pitch products can apply via www.morrisons.com/local
The closing date for Scottish applications is Friday, May 5.