Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, has become the latest retailer to support the campaign backed by Dr Neil Hudson MP which called on supermarkets to implement an online ‘Buy British’ button.
In August 2023 Dr Hudson joined more than 120 other MPs signed an open letter calling on supermarkets to highlight the very best of British produce by implementing a ‘Buy British’ section online to make it easier for people to buy homegrown produce.
The letter, written by Dr Luke Evans MP, stated ‘Our ask is simple, create a tab that collates produce from farmers,’ citing consumer choice, environmental benefits and support for farmers as reasons to make the change.
Now, Tesco’s have followed Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Co-op and Waitrose by launching a ‘Best of British’ section online which the retailer’s Chief Commercial Officer says “[brings] together over 500 hundred quality, affordable British products to choose from.”
Food security is a hot button issue currently with international conflicts, the ongoing pandemic recovery and disruption to supply chains in the Red Sea impacting the entire agri-food supply chain. As such, Dr Hudson is at the forefront of Parliament's work on food security, having triggered and published a report into the UK's food security resilience, sitting on an expert panel for policy makers, and chaired a select committee session on British agriculture in trade deals.
Dr Hudson is clear that retailers have a part to play in the nation's food security and believes adding a 'Buy British' button will better support domestic producers - meaning consumers will be safer from volatility on the international market.
More recently in Parliament, he has spoken on the need to protect prime agricultural land from overreaching solar developments, quizzed the Environment Secretary on new central Government measures and made a wide-ranging speech on food security in the wake of three significant Commons reports into the issue.
Dr Neil Hudson MP, said:
“The campaign for a ‘Buy British’ button aims to make it even easier for people to buy homegrown produce, supporting our nation’s farmers and cutting down on unnecessary food miles.
“Tesco follow the lead of Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Waitrose and the Co-op by making this small but meaningful change which puts our farmers and consumer choice first.
“In such an increasingly uncertain world, we need to support British farmers in whatever way we can so I thank all the retailers who have joined our campaign."
Dr Luke Evans, who spearheaded the campaign, said:
“I’m pleased to welcome Tesco to the fray. It’s great to see the UK’s largest supermarket join other major retailers in implementing an online ‘Buy British’ section which will support our farmers and give consumers greater choice.
“This is really welcome news and a step forward in supporting our nation’s food growers and producers by showcasing over 500 homegrown items, with everything from meat and vegetables to dairy products now easier to find on the ‘Best of British’ tab.”
David Exwood, NFU Deputy President, said:
“We know from our own independent research that the public want to buy more British food from retailers which is why it is good news to see Tesco join six other supermarkets to add a buy British section on its website.
“We have been championing this important issue since 2016 and today’s news is a fantastic result for the campaign organised by Dr Luke Evans MP. It offers shoppers a direct way to support their local farms and buy homegrown produce.”
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:
“Supporting British farmers, growers and suppliers remains critical to ensuring we have a robust food industry here in the UK, and we count ourselves as proud champions of British agriculture, striving to source produce from the UK wherever possible.
“Our customers share our love for British produce, and we want to do all we can to make it as easy to find as possible, no matter how they shop with us, so we’re thrilled to be launching our Best of British page on our groceries website, bringing together over 500 hundred quality, affordable British products to choose from.”
