Tesco Northern Ireland maintains longstanding partnerships with several local fresh produce suppliers, celebrating nearly 200 years of combined farming collaboration. The partnership with Tesco dates back to the retailer's entry into the region in 1997, and these collaborations play a role in supplying over 20,000 tonnes of fresh, local produce annually across Northern Ireland.
Alignment with local growers such as Wilsons Country, Gilfresh Produce, Roy Lyttle, Dundonald Nurseries, Windwhistle Farms, and P McCann & Sons is foundational to both the retailer and the local agricultural economy. These partnerships reflect a shared history and evolution alongside Tesco's expanding customer reach across the region.
Newer collaborations include Simply Fruit, joining in 2002, and Milgro Onions in 2014. Nigel Doherty, Tesco NI's produce buying manager, notes the deep-rooted and expanding nature of these partnerships, allowing Northern Irish produce to not only serve local markets but reach wider audiences in the UK.
The integration of family-run businesses stands out, as seen with Gilfresh Produce in Co. Armagh, supplying fresh vegetables across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and Simply Fruit, evolving from a focus on Bramley apples to a Tesco UK supplier. William Gilpin of Gilfresh Produce describes the collaborative ethos with Tesco as built on shared values of quality and local pride.
Recent developments see the introduction of 13 new local products, reflecting ongoing investment in the sector. Roy Lyttle has launched Lyttle Leaves, offering sustainable salad lines, and Milgro Onions extends its offering to encompass fresh brown onions. Simply Fruit now features convenient fruit snack bags catering to consumer preferences.
Nigel Doherty underscores the significance of supporting local producers for quality, sustainability, and the future of the agri-food industry, a vital sector in Northern Ireland's economy.
Prominent figures in the farming community include Joanne Weir and Lewis Cunningham of Wilson's Country, known for high-quality potatoes; William and Richard Gilpin of Gilfresh Produce; and Roy Lyttle from the Strangford area, cultivating various crops. Other contributors are Connor and Patrick McCann of Simply Fruit, P McCann & Sons in Portadown, Milgro Onions by William Miller, and Windwhistle Farms led by James Booth. Dundonald Nurseries, managed by Malcolm and Sophie McCully, also contributes notably to Tesco's offerings.
Source: NewsLetter