Sainsbury's has been awarded Organic Supermarket of the Year 2004 by the Soil Association, the UK's main charity promoting organic food and farming. The Soil Association has also named Pammy Riggs, a leading organic chicken farmer from Devon, as Organic Business Person of the Year. A number of other awards were made as part of the Organic Industry Awards 2004, held at Olympia, London on Sunday 4 April.
Organic Supermarket of the Year: Sainbury's
This is the third time that Sainsbury's has picked up the prestigious award. The judges were particularly impressed with the supermarket's commitment to the environment and to selling UK and locally produced organic food. Sainsbury's was also assessed for its quality and choice of organic produce; commitment to ethical trading; animal welfare; customer satisfaction; value for money and consumer education.
The decision was made by a panel of nine judges based on a range of information: visits to stores, an opinion poll of shoppers, a confidential survey of suppliers about trading relationships and information provided by the supermarket.
Martin Cottingham, the Soil Association's Marketing Director said, "Sainsbury's has shown genuine support to UK organic farmers in the last year. Nearly all organic beef, pork, lamb and dairy items are home produced. The supermarket has also reduced carbon dioxide emissions from its transport fleet and developed environmentally friendlier packaging."
Contact: Zara Parry, Media Officer, 020 7695 7964/ Zara.Parry@Sainsburys.co.uk
Organic Business Person of the Year: Pammy Riggs, Providence Farm, Holsworthy, Devon
The judges were particularly impressed with the way Pammy and her partner, Ritchie, have succeeded in building their business - a small mixed farm with pigs, poultry and a few cattle - carefully and sustainably while achieving commercial success. The Riggs have continued to deliver award-winning products without compromising their very high standards of animal welfare. Providence Farm serves as a fine example of how care, commitment, well-planned expansion and diversification can deliver fine quality products locally and nationally.
Contact: Pammy Riggs 01409 254 421/ info@providencefarm.co.uk
Organic Retailer of the Year: Abel & Cole, Brixton, London
Set up in 1988, Abel & Cole is one of the UK's fastest growing organic retailer, supplying 10,000 households every week. The food is consistently good quality, and there is a commitment to seasonal fresh produce - nothing is air-freighted. A wide range of British organic foods, including meats, fish, cheeses and locally baked breads are also sold. All this for reasonable prices and free delivery.
Abel & Cole also runs a not-for-profit venture that enables schools to raise funds and encourage healthy eating: in January this year, 60 schools raised £10,000.
The judges were also impressed with the way in which Abel & Cole finds and nurtures small suppliers, giving them forward contracts and a fair price agreed in advance. And staff are given free bikes to help them get to work.
Contact: Abel & Cole/020 7737 3648/ www.abel-cole.co.uk
