Selaine Saxby MP for North Devon pledged her support to the campaign that calls for supermarkets to better promote British produce. The most recent success of this campaign sees Sainsbury’s become the biggest supermarket to implement a ‘Buy British’ section for online shoppers. This is the third big success for the #BuyBritishButton campaign.
In August 2023 Selaine Saxby and 125 other cross Party MPs signed an open letter calling on supermarkets to highlight the very best of British produce by implementing a ‘Buy British’ section online.
The letter, written by Dr Luke Evans MP, details how supermarkets should create a tab that collates produce from farmers, citing consumer choice, environmental benefits, and support for farmers to make the change. This is part of a long term plan to back farmers, and their produce, in the UK
The ’Best of British’ page on Sainsburys.co.uk has 450 British sourced grocery products for sale including meat, dairy and eggs. This means the millions of online customers now have access to British grown and produced groceries on the Sainsbury’s website, meaning homegrown produce can now be shopped even more easily.
It is important that the pressures British farmers are facing are acknowledged by supermarkets and Sainsbury’s have taken key steps in supporting them to maintain a resilient UK food system for the long term. They have provided over £72 million of additional funds to British meat, dairy and produce farmers over the last couple of years to support inflationary pressures. They have also created dedicated UK Farmer and Grower Development groups across dairy, livestock and crops to allow them to work more closely with farmers.
Since Selaine signed the open letter, over 30,000 people have signed a National Farmers’ Union (NFU) petition in support, the Government have also endorsed the campaign. The launch of Sainsbury’s ‘Buy British’ section follows Morrisons and Aldi, who have already launched a ‘British’ section for online shoppers to support British farmers.
Selaine Saxby MP for North Devon, said:
“It is vital that British farmer’s produce is promoted here in the UK, and supermarkets have a key role in ensuring this. It is such good news that Sainsburys have followed Morrisons and Aldi in their step to boost British produce by not only setting up a British only section online, but also through the £72 million worth of funding to boost British meat and dairy.
“I will continue to back British farmers, especially our brilliant farmers in North Devon. It is essential that supermarkets continue to promote British produce so that both our environment is protected, and our farmers can enjoy boosted business. I very much welcome this launch from Sainsburys and I hope to see other British supermarkets follow shortly.”
Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, said:
“This is another huge step forward for my ‘Buy British’ button campaign! With Sainsbury’s launch of a ‘Buy British’ section online they become the latest supermarket to support homegrown produce.
“This gives consumers extra choice, which is good for our environment and helps to support British farmers.
“Sainsbury’s have taken a further step forward by placing signposting to buy homegrown produce on the homepage and in other sections on the website such as those dedicated to dairy, fruit and vegetables.
“Farmers always tell me the best thing we can do to support them is to buy local, homegrown produce and the new ‘Best of British’ section on Sainsbury’s website makes it even easier for shoppers to support our farmers and cut down on unnecessary food miles.
“It’s great to see Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Morrisons all leading the way on the ‘Buy British’ button, I look forward to seeing other supermarkets follow their lead. The dial is shifting on this, I hope the likes of Tesco and Asda will follow soon.”
