To mark Yorkshire Day (1st August), ASDA today announced its intention to launch a 'Yorkshire's Best' local choice range and is appealing for businesses in the area to come forward with local products they think shoppers would like to see sold in Yorkshire stores.
ASDA is working in partnership with the Yorkshire Regional Food Group to search out new suppliers – the range will truly be a local range with all products being selected on a store-by-store basis reflecting local customer demand.
The new range of products will be available in Yorkshire stores from early 2004, and will be in addition to the Yorkshire products already sold by ASDA which are sourced from its existing Yorkshire supply base of over 40 companies. Existing products include yoghurts from Longley Farm in Holmfirth, ice-cream from Yorvale in York and sausages from Andrew and Debbie Keeble’s Manor Born Farm in Thirsk.
This is the latest phase in ASDA's local sourcing programme. ASDA has already successfully launched local ranges in Cornwall, the South-West, the Lake District, Scotland and Wales. Many local products have become the number one seller in their category, often outperforming big brand names.
Potential local suppliers need fulfil only four criteria to be considered and there is no limit on company size: -
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The product must have a barcode, something ASDA will help with;
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Technical and food safety standards must be met;
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There must be evidence of consumer demand locally, and finally;
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Suppliers must have a fax machine to receive orders.
Karen Todd, ASDA’s local sourcing manager, said: "This is a great way to celebrate Yorkshire Day and be proud of what Yorkshire has to offer. ASDA began life as a small Yorkshire company and has grown in success ever since, this new range gives us the chance to work with local suppliers and grow their businesses alongside our own. If you’ve got a local product that people just can’t get enough of then we’d love to hear from you via our friends at the Yorkshire Regional Food Group."
Commenting on the initiative, Yorkshire Regional Food Group's Kathy Merrett, said "This really is a great opportunity for small and medium sized food producers in the Yorkshire region to reach more customers and to spread the word that Yorkshire has some fantastic speciality food. Its also encouraging to see that ASDA is committed to supporting local business."
Further information: Emma King, ASDA press office, 0113 241 7829, Out of hours, 0113 243 5435
Notes to editors:
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ASDA is working closely with the Yorkshire Regional Food Group to ensure suppliers achieve required levels of accreditation. Any suppliers interested in the Best of Yorkshire range should contact Kathy Merrett at the Yorkshire Regional Food Group on 01937 830354.
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ASDA’s local sourcing initiative is a direct result of customer demands for supermarkets to support UK producers on different levels. The retailer’s objective is to be Britain’s leading supermarket for local products exceeding customer needs always;
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ASDA works with over 170 listed local suppliers, and stocks 579 local lines.
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In many cases, ASDA is supporting the commercial development of smaller local suppliers to ensure they can deal with different requirements;
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Training days are organised for suppliers to help them manage matters like financial awareness, electronic ordering and local marketing;
Local bestsellers:
It takes just 16 weeks from identifying a product for that product to appear on a store shelf.
Here are a few examples of the bestsellers:
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Sausages - out of top 10 bestsellers, nine are local/regional
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Ice-cream - out of top 10 bestsellers, three are local/regional lines
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Bread - out of top five bestsellers, three are local
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Cakes - out of top 10 bestsellers eight lines are local/regional
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Calendars - out of top 10 best sellers all are locally sourced lines
Existing Yorkshire supplier case studies available on request
