The announcement that Scotland will host its first supermarket summit was welcomed by the National Farmer’s Union (NFU) and Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs.
The chief executives from all the country’s major supermarkets have agreed in principle to attend the summit hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond.
Mr Lochhead said: “By bringing all the chief executives together, one of the issues we may discuss is the part that retailers can play in the promotion of quality Scottish produce, reducing the negative environmental impact of food and improving the nation’s health to help make Scotland greener, healthier and wealthier.”
The NFU hopes the meeting will help strengthen relationships between local producers and supermarkets and believes the summit comes at a critical time.
NFUS Chief Executive James Withers said: “Food security and supply concerns are all over the news headlines at the moment and there are very real concerns about the spiraling cost of producing food in this country and abroad.”
So far Asda, Scotmid, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose have all provisionally agreed to go to the summit.
“The efforts of the supermarkets must go beyond the glossy posters and adverts and be truly about engaging directly and fairly with food producers.” Mr Withers says.
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