Tesco Sustainable Beef Project Launch

Date: Tuesday, February 05, 2008

On 23 January 2008 we invited 12 selected beef producers to our head office for the launch of our Tesco Sustainable Beef Project (TSBP). Following on from the morning meeting the farmers joined our Chairman, David Reid for a roast beef lunch and open discussion. Our Sustainable Beef project aims to work closely with farmers in our supply chain to drive commercial benefits for beef producers.

In partnership with our beef suppliers St Merryn Meats Ltd, Southern Counties Fresh Foods, McIntosh Donald and Foyle we have selected 12 beef farmers to form the Tesco Sustainable Beef Project (TSBP). We also believe that by working closely together we can bring improvements to animal welfare, food quality and environmental practices, which will benefit the whole beef industry. We aim to apply practices based on sound science to improve both productivity and profitability at farm level. Once we have proven (or disproved) the results on these farms they will be used as demonstration units for our wider supply base.

Frank Momber, one of the chosen producers for the project welcomed the launch and said “I congratulate the Tesco team for the clear and reasoned thinking that has gone into the project. The launch meeting was, by far, the most encouraging I have been to in the last 10 years and I look forward to welcoming the team onto my farm to develop the work of the four pillars”.

TSBP have teamed up with Westpoint veterinary group, Berrys and the Food Animal Initiative (FAI) to deliver on farm consultancy and implement Veterinary Health Plans which our meaningful, reduce disease cost of production and improve the overall health of our herds. Alice Pattinson, Producer Club Manager, heads up the project.