Local suppliers to Asda, the North East's largest supermarket with 20 stores, have achieved record sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Sales of 70 product lines supplied by 28 companies are exceeding £30,000 a week compared with last year's Christmas record of £25,000, and are still rising.
AHG Management, the local "hub" who organise the account management and deliveries to Asda stores in Tyneside and Teesside, report sales increases across a wide range of food and non-food products, including gift packs of new Christmas beers, DVDs and books featuring the region's heritage.
Food lines which are selling well include Acorn organic milk, Alnwick Rum, luxury ice cream from Doddington's and Mark Toney, Fentiman's botanically-brewed soft drinks, Hadrian water, Jesmona black bullets and traditional boiled sweets, Jenkins and Hustwit handmade cakes and W.S.Robson's natural honey.
AHG Management was set up in 2002 with the support of the regional food group, Northumbria Larder, to meet the growing demand for good quality, local produce. The hub is achieving annual sales of almost £1.5 million and has received special praise from Asda, who claim to have pioneered the concept of local ranges across the country.
"We are always looking for new products for Asda's locally-sourced range, and we can provide an excellent gateway for smaller suppliers to deal with the region's leading retailer," says Geoff Wright, director of AHG Management.
