DAIRY farmers are to be targeted by a leading multiple to tighten up production standards, it emerged yesterday.
Senior Marks & Spencer executives have held preliminary talks with dairy companies in Scotland to draw up
producer protocols which will then be introduced around the country.
This will complete their range of farmer and grower protocols which cover fresh fruit and vegetables, beef, lamb, pig meat and poultry.
The move will be backed by enhanced sponsorship for the dairy sector in the company's three-year farm show support programme costing more than #1.5m, with awards for dairy cattle at the Bath & West Show and at the Royal Highland Show.
''We are intent on continuing to build links with producers and in particular keep in touch with the elite of the farming industry,'' said Chris Gilbert-Wood, the company's
agriculture and livestock manager at a
London news conference.
''This sponsorship, which will continue to at least 2001 and possibly beyond, is intended to show to farmers and growers our commitment to British produce.
''Over 90% of the food we sell comes from the UK.''
M&S has an expansion programme. Some 30 stores will be opened in the UK this year which will see selling space grow by 10% over all. More than 100 stores in the group will feature serve-over meat counters.
Gilbert-Wood also rejected suggestions that the company would source raw food materials from abroad because of the strength of sterling.
''In fact, most of the food we sell in our stores overseas comes from Britain and these account for almost #200m of British food sales.''
As well as discussions in
Scotland, the company had been talking to the farmer's unions and others which had developed
assurance schemes in this sector. ''We aim to work with the industry in a pragmatic way to get what we want.'' he added.
''We are intent on taking the science of improved production and getting it down the supply chain as quickly as possible.''
However, the company admitted its latest venture into organic food sales was running into difficulties because of a lack of regular supplies.
Launched eight weeks ago, the original eight lines of organic fruit and vegetables are down to five.
A six-week trial in two stores with organic meat at the end of last year had also served to highlight a shortage of regular supplies of the required quality.
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