The East of England Co-operative’s local sourcing initiative is putting more local products on its supermarket and food store shelves than ever before.
The society is working with the region’s finest producers large and small to source quality products from across East Anglia and the range and demand from customers is growing all the time.
To celebrate the contribution local sourcing partners make to the Society, special Accreditation Plaques were handed out at a Breakfast Briefing at Wherstead Park.
The event also unveiled the society’s new ‘Sourced Locally’ branding that will be rolled out to East of England Co-operative supermarket and food stores across the region, bringing all local sourcing under one banner.
Local producers will continue to use their own packaging, clearly stating the product’s provenance, and customers will be able to easily identify local products thanks to new hanging boards, and labeling on shelves and in chilled and frozen sections.
Kevin Warden, local sourcing manager, said: “When we say local, we mean local! We put products into the store closest to the producer and this is often just a few miles, or in some cases a few yards, from our stores and where possible no more than a 30 mile radius.
“When fresh produce is available it can be picked, packed and in the customer’s shopping basket within a few hours.
“Our new ‘Sourced Locally’ branding will bring greater emphasis to our support for the region’s producers and highlight the wide range of products we have in store.”
Ken Green, Ken Green Fish from Clacton, said: “I am delighted to work with our local co-operative, which plays such a valuable role in our communities and supports the local economy through its local sourcing initiative.
“The support I have received from the society means I have been able to employ new staff, and this in turn has helped me to obtain a grant for new equipment to help my business continue to grow.”
Robert Strathern, Fairfields Farm, who grows potatoes in both Essex and Suffolk said: “In 2009 we started supplying just three East of England Co-op stores, now we supply our potatoes and crisps direct to stores across the whole of Suffolk and Essex.
“We are really pleased that our relationship with the East of England Co-op has proved so successful, and this has helped us to take on five new staff. It has proved very beneficial to our business as a whole, and secured jobs at a tough economic time.”
Mark Bloss, from Hollybush Farm Produce, Buxall near Stowmarket, Suffolk, said:“We are delighted to supply the East of England Co-operative, who share our values of great quality local food. The society has become one of our biggest customers, which speaks volumes about the relationship we have with them.”
Royston Owen, of Royston’s Traditional Bakery in Long Stratton, Norfolk, said: “The support of the East of England Co-operative is invaluable to my business and it’s a fantastic organisation to deal with. They listen to what I say and take on board my ideas about which of my products will sell best in particular stores. It’s a team effort and we work together to achieve the best outcome for all of us; my bakery, the society, and our customers.
“We started supplying one of the society’s stores in Long Stratton with bread and cakes and now supply several other Co-op food stores in the area.
“The Co-op puts products into the stores that are closest to the producer and at just 192 steps my bakery can’t be much closer to the Long Stratton supermarket!”
The society began its local sourcing initiative in 2007 with just a few suppliers. The number of suppliers and sales of their products and has grown year-on-year and this progress is expected to continue.
There are currently 95 local producers accredited by the society with more interested in linking up with their local co-operative.
To support its local producers the society has drawn up a pledge to emphasize its commitment to local sourcing:
• To work with local producers to provide quality products and save food miles.
• To provide members and customers with more choice by putting more local products on our shelves than ever before.
• To trade fairly and honestly with local producers.
• To generate sustainable revenue for local producers and the society.
• To fully vet suppliers to ensure that they meet the society’s food safety criteria.
Source: East of England Co-operative Society
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