The Red Tractor logo – the mark that represents quality British produce – now appears on foods with an annual retail value of £6.4bn, an increase of over £1bn in a year.

Over the past 12 months, 50 new businesses joined the Red Tractor scheme, in addition to a significant growth in the number of own-label lines carrying the logo.

There are about 375 companies licensed to pack Red Tractor-assured food. They are supplied by about 78,000 Red Tractor farmers and growers in the UK, accounting for between 66% and 95% of output in main commodity sectors.

Colin Smith, chairman of Assured Food Standards – the independent organisation that manages the Red Tractor scheme – said: “The independent endorsement that Red Tractor provides is key for the companies that licence with us.

“It gives the consumer complete confidence about the strict standards of production upheld by Red Tractor, and the inclusion of the Union flag means they can be absolutely sure the food is UK-farmed. This assurance about origin comes from strict licencing rules and regular trace-back checks.”

Sales of Red Tractor food have enjoyed a 15% year-on-year increase.