NFUS calls for farmer ‘secret shoppers’ at Royal Highland Show
NFU Scotland is encouraging its members to engage in a “secret shopper” experience by visiting a supermarket to better understand the Scottish food chain from farm to shop shelf.
The call comes following president Nigel Miller’s visit to six supermarket stores to examine their fresh lamb offering; other board members are now set to do the same.
Speaking at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, the union’s vice president John Picken said: “Many of our members have an appreciation of how the fruits of their labour arrive on a shop shelf, but refreshing the memory on how the modern day food chain operates will be very useful.
“With the Groceries Supply Code of Practice now in place and legislation to create a retailer adjudicator making its way through Westminster, the time is right for NFUS to step up its engagement with supermarkets.”
John Picken
“Our president got tremendous value form spending a day looking at how various stores were dealing with lamb on their shelves. Rolling that out across the wide range of meat, dairy, eggs, fruit and veg our members are producing will not only aid our understanding but will help improve the dialogue that we already have with our key customers.
“With the Groceries Supply Code of Practice now in place and legislation to create a retailer adjudicator making its way through Westminster, the time is right for NFUS to step up its engagement with supermarkets.”
To further strengthen its relationship with supermarkets, NFUS board members met with five major retailers – Asda, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – at this week’s show, to discuss how its members could look more closely at how distribution centres and stores operate.
Keep up to date with all the show results from the Royal Highland Show at www.fwi.co.uk/takingstock