Scottish veg specialist will supply stores in Scotland and the North East of England
Veg supplier ESG Drysdale has extended its locally grown asparagus to more than 60 Asda stores across the North East of England.
The supplier was formed in 2024 following the merger of two of Scotland’s leading fresh produce organisations, East of Scotland Growers (ESG) and R&K Drysdale, and then began supplying asparagus to Asda stores across Scotland.
The popular summer vegetable will hit shelves following a successful supply to Scottish stores in 2024. Following the Scottish launch, which was the product’s first season to market, ESG Drysdale was supplying asparagus to Asda through the retailer’s distribution centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear before the end of last year’s season.
ESG Drysdale, which works with a total of 18 different growers, is the only Scottish supplier of asparagus to retail, with the firm attributing the quality of the produce to the microclimate of Scotland’s east coast. The asparagus fields sit within farmland of around 40 acres.
Alex MacArthur, national account manager at ESG Drysdale, said: “People often associate asparagus with warmer climates than the east coast of Scotland, but we’ve got a microclimate that really works. Our asparagus grows across a site of warm, sandy soil which runs right next to the beach on the north shore of the Firth of Forth.
“Being so close to the shore allows the ground to warm up quickly, giving us an early start in the season. As well as that, being so close to the sea means the ground is always moist and never frosts, while prevailing winds in the area mean fewer clouds and lots of sunlight.
“All of that helps enormously with crop growth, and the fact we can get our product to Asda stores quickly – if it’s picked on a Monday, it’s on the shelves by Wednesday at the latest – means our asparagus is beautifully fresh.”
This year, three lines of ESG Drysdale’s locally grown asparagus will be sold in a total of 91 Asda stores in Scotland, with 66 stores stocking the company’s crop in England. The team, which works with two asparagus growers along Scotland’s east coast, is expected to sell at least 25 tonnes of asparagus through Asda this year, with 70 per cent of volume earmarked for distribution in Scotland and 30 per cent in England.
Jonathan Wood, specialist buyer at Asda, added: “Following a successful first season in 2024, we’re delighted to bring delicious Scottish asparagus to even more Asda customers as we start the new season in 2025.
“ESG Drysdale’s asparagus was a huge success in its first year with Asda, and we’re confident our customers in Scotland and the North East of England will get to enjoy the freshness of locally grown asparagus on their plates.
“By working with local farmers who know their craft inside out, we’re able to get high-end stock into our stores quickly and with limited travel time – a win for all involved.”
