Tesco boost for Northern Irish meat
Retail industry leader Tesco is to double purchases of Northern Irish meat, according to chief executive Philip Clarke. It could mean a substantial increase in business for Northern Irish processors.
Mr Clarke made the pledge at the launch of Queen's University Belfast's Institute of Global Food Security. He said the retailer believed it was important to "work more closely" with producers.
"The horsemeat issue has reinforced my view and has demonstrated that we have to move much more quickly than I first thought would be necessary. I am very clear that the best way to have more control of the meat supply chain is to produce more of it closer to home."
He added: "We know our customers' appetite for products from the UK and Ireland is greater than ever and we want to give them every opportunity to buy products produced locally. We already do a lot to support Northern Irish agriculture, but I think we can go even further."
Clarke said he aims to source as much of what it sells in Northern Ireland from the province. The retailer currently buys products in excess of £500 million annually from Northern Irish suppliers.
"It's what our customers want, it's what we want," he said. "Within the next few weeks, we will go from sourcing less than 20 per cent of the meat we sell here locally to around 90 per cent. And we're not going to stop there - we're going to do everything within our power to get as close as we can to 100 per cent."
Clarke's announcement comes weeks after he indicated Tesco would source more meat in the UK as it looks to tighten security down the supply chain in response to the horsemeat scandal. He told the BBC's Today radio programme it will begin by offering two-year supply contracts in order to help promote a sustainable British agriculture sector.
Mr Clarke was speaking at the launch of Queen's University Belfast's £33M Institute of Global Food Security which will improve global food safety through the establishment of an international 'food-fortress' in Belfast.