Waitrose and Co-op have become the latest supermarkets to launched ‘Best of British’ sections on their websites in the ongoing cross-Party campaign supported by South Thanet MP, Craig Mackinlay, which called on the nation’s supermarkets to make it easier for consumers to buy homegrown produce.
Craig and 125 other cross-Party MPs signed an open letter calling on supermarkets to highlight the very best of British produce by implementing a ‘Buy British’ section online.
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.
The recent move to implement a ‘Best of British’ section by Waitrose and the Co-op shows increased support for the MPs campaign amid country-wide calls to buy more homegrown produce.
Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Ocado have also launched online sections collating all British-sourced food and drink since Craig made the call.
Craig Mackinlay MP said:
“It’s great to see two more supermarkets support our campaign for a ‘Buy British’ button online, bringing the total to six major national supermarkets which reach millions of customers across the United Kingdom!
“The aim of the ‘Buy British’ tab is simple; to make it even easier for shoppers to buy homegrown produce, which has the dual bonus of helping to protect our environment while supporting Britain’s farmers.”
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Barclay MP, said:
“UK farmers produce exceptional food to world-class standards. It’s great to see British supermarkets celebrating homegrown and reared produce by making it easier for customers to back our farmers and choose British food.”
A Waitrose spokesperson added:
“We are really proud of our British farmers. We do a great deal to promote the care and effort they put into producing food to our customers online and in our shops. We back our farmers by paying them a fair price for the high standards of environmental and animal welfare standards they deliver for us and offer our customers their high quality food at great value.
“We have recently added a ‘Best of British’ section to Waitrose.com. It includes some of our products which are 100% British all year round, such as fresh eggs, meat and milk. If it is a success with our customers we will consider expanding on it.”