Food firms should buy more British food: NFU

22-Mar-2017 - Last updated on 22-Mar-2017 at 11:35 GMT

Food manufacturers should follow Lidl’s example and buy more British food, urged the NFU

Food manufacturers should buy more British food, urges the National Farmers Union (NFU), after thanking discount retailer Lidl for backing British food and farming.

NFU president Meurig Raymond thanked the retailer, which has more than 630 stores across Britain, signed up to the NFU’s Back British Farming Charter.

“We thank Lidl UK for its commitment and wish to see other food processors and manufacturers, and politicians taking the Back British Farming message seriously,” said Raymond.

Launched in 2013, the charter urges retailers, food manufacturers industry, consumers and politicians to put farming at the heart of food production policies

Want to buy more British food

The vast majority (86%) of shoppers want to buy more British food, based on independent surveys commissioned by the NFU over the years, said Raymond.

“Today’s pledge by Lidl UK shows customers that it is committed to providing high quality products which are associated with British agriculture.”

Every £1 invested in farming, returns £7.40 back to the nation, claimed the NFU. “British farming is the bedrock of the nation’s food and drink industry – the largest manufacturing sector in the UK – worth £108bn and providing jobs for nearly 4M people,” said Raymond.

Needed the support of retailers

British farmers and growers needed the support of retailers like Lidl in order to repay their investments in producing quality food, which complied with leading animal health and welfare and environmental standards, according the union.

Meanwhile, earlier this week the NFU president warned news of rotten meat allegations in Brazil highlighted the need for responsible trade deals that protected British food safety and traceability standards after Brexit.

“Protecting the standards adhered to by British farmers and the transparency across the supply chain is essential for the public who want to buy safe and traceable food,” said the president.