Fresh produce suppliers in the south west could gain listings at Asda for local products after the retailer has appointed a regional buying manager.
Alan Jackson has been hired as a new buying manager for the south west of England with a remit of helping small to medium-sized food and drink businesses in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol gain listings at Asda.
Jackson, who grew up in Somerset and has worked at the retailer in a number of buying roles, will work with Asda stores in the south west to find “hidden gems” in the region’s supplier base.
“If we find a local product our customers will like, we can have it on our store shelves within eight weeks flat in some cases,” he said.
'Ultimately my goal is to make our customers proud when they walk into their local store, proud to be from the south west and proud that Asda continues to provide huge support for local producers and the local community.
“There are already so many excellent suppliers and products across the region; it’s all about finding those hidden gems and getting them into Asda. I am looking forward to enhancing the existing range and bringing more pride to this beautiful part of the world.”
Rick Banks, senior buying manager for local England and Wales, said: 'We are committed to supporting local suppliers across the country, including in the south west, ensuring that the local communities we serve have access to high quality local produce at low prices.
“Alan is originally from the south west and is very passionate about where he is from and what he does, so he's absolutely perfect for the role.'
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