Sainsbury’s has come under fire for its lack of support of the Red Tractor logo.

The criticism was made by the NFU at Sainsbury’s Farming for the Future conference at Stoneleigh Park.

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said the union would be challenging Sainsbury’s.

“We urge Sainsbury’s to use the Red Tractor logo on all of its British-produced food.”

The union’s head of food chain Lee Woodger, added:

“Sainsbury’s doesn’t support Red Tractor enough, preferring to put other logos on its packaging.

“Tesco, Morrisons and other retailers support it far more. We think they’ve missed a trick.”

However, Sainsbury’s group commercial director Mike Coupe rejected the criticism and said that the retailer did support the Red Tractor logo.

“But our brand is Sainsbury’s – that’s the quality mark our customers look for,” said Mr Coupe.

He admitted the retailer was focused on its own producers to the exclusion of the rest of the industry.

“We’d rather work closely with a small group of farmers and develop the best possible relationship than less effectively with the whole industry.”