Morrisons goes Dutch
Somerfield may have been the first UK retailer to import free range eggs when it put French eggs on its shelves last month but it has quickly been followed by Morrisons.
Britain's fourth biggest supermarket has circumvented UK packers and is sourcing free range eggs direct from Holland to make up the shortfall in home-produced supplies. The retailer is reported to be importing around 15 per cent of its total free range volumes.
In a development that will further worry UK free range egg producers, the eggs are being sold under Morrisons' 'Bettabuy' label signalling the introduction by a leading British retailer of discount-line free range. The Dutch eggs are retailing at £1.49 for a mixed weight 12-pack which compares with £1.75 and £2.09 for a dozen UK-produced medium and large free range on sale in Morrisons' stores.
Somerfield—which is sourcing 40 per cent of its free range supplies from France through a UK packer—has priced the eggs the same as its own-label British free range.
Meanwhile the UK's biggest retailer Tesco has given an assurance to the Ranger that despite the prospect of being short-delivered on free range in the run up to Christmas, it has taken the decision not to fill the gap with imported eggs.
Tesco says it has considered importing but is not satisfied that the eggs being offered matched the standards it insists on from UK producers—namely those laid down by the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme and the BEIC's Lion.
"Until we can be absolutely certain imported eggs come up to the standard we demand of UK suppliers we will not be selling foreign eggs," insisted category director Stan Burns. "Having looked at what is available we do not believe that is currently the case and, although it is not a situation we are comfortable with, in this instance we would rather go short of product than compromise the standard that customers have come to expect of Tesco.
"However, we must quickly recover a position of 100 per cent availability," he added.
ASDA has given even more emphatic backing to UK producers. Chris Brown, head of ethical and sustainable sourcing, said that ASDA was totally committed to sourcing all of its eggs from British farms.
"It's my view that all retailers should show the same responsibility as ASDA and make the necessary investment in British agriculture so that we don't arrive at a point where we have to import produce to keep shelves full," said Mr Brown.
But Sainsbury's will be taking some eggs from Europe and in a statement issued to the Ranger said: "We can confirm Sainsbury's are fully committed to UK agriculture and British Lion eggs.
"However, faced with shortages of free range eggs we will be sourcing a small proportion of our egg requirements through European eggs over Christmas. However, we will only import from regions where production standards are as high as those in the UK in order to maintain availability for our customers.
"Sainsbury's are committed to converting all free range and organic eggs to the Woodland brand during 2007. Woodland offers producers a price premium which aims to deliver a profitable and sustainable supply base in the long term. "
