It is difficult to argue with the performance of Asda in the retail market in the last couple of years. Consistently outperforming the sector in growth and eating more market share by the month, the chain must be pleasing its customers at the very least.

The decision to move towards a single supplier for fresh produce will not please its supply base anywhere near as much. It is both the logical climax and ñ for some ñ worst case scenario of a chain of events that has spanned the last five years.

As the negatively affected suppliers had failed to comment by the time we went to press this week, I am not going to talk for them. But it looks from the outside like they have been taken in, chewed up and spat out by the retail machine.

Asda may have nothing to hide. It may have fronted up to the situation. But it has also insisted on the highest level of commitment to the Asda business from suppliers ñ in some cases excluding them from any other retail partnerships. This leaves them with many previously open avenues blocked off. It all amounts to a very uncertain future.

In the long run, the supply chain will quite possibly benefit from the de-risking that Asda believes will come from this move. In the short term, there is the small matter of large, established and extremely experienced companies with hundreds of dedicated employees losing their Asda business.

Value engineering, every day low costs et al have been taken on board as suppliers integrated themselves into the Asda framework. What price are the jettisoned now going to pay?