LONDON, 2015-10-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s has committed to extend its British lamb season until at least January 2016. The announcement will help make the most of the increased availability of stock this season while reassuring its farmers affected by low prices. For customers, it means more great quality British lamb will be on offer in our stores into the winter months.
The typical British lamb season means availability and quality can decline in the New Year, however by working closely with our farmers in the Sainsbury’s Lamb Development Group (SLDG) we are confident we will have enough quality British lamb to extend our by Sainsbury’s British lamb range well into January 2016. Our aim is to optimise our British offer while securing availability for customers with support from New Zealand product during peak demand.
British lamb products include by Sainsbury’s lamb chops through to lamb used in our ready meals, for example by Sainsbury’s lamb Rogan Josh and pilau rice.
Philip Hambling, Agriculture Manager at Sainsbury’s said: “It continues to be a good year for British lamb supply, so as part of our British commitment we are making plans to source as much high quality lamb as possible into the New Year. We hope this gives our sheep farmers confidence in what has been a difficult year for lamb sales, and of course still provide our customers great quality and value.”
The lamb on our meat counter and in our Taste the Difference and Organic ranges is 100% British all year around. Our packaged fresh lamb is 100% British in the main season. This year we were able to switch all our fresh lamb to British by the end of June.
Notes to editors
Founded in 1869, Sainsbury’s today operates over 1,200 stores, employing around 161,000 colleagues across the UK. With 24 million customer transactions every week, the company’s focus is on delivering high quality, affordable food, clothing and general merchandise across supermarkets, convenience stores and online. Sainsbury’s Bank offers accessible financial products that reward customers who both bank and shop with Sainsbury’s. Strong, well-established values are integral to Sainsbury’s success in helping customers Live Well forLess.
- Sainsbury’s has 950 sheep farmers in Sainsbury’s Lamb Development Group (SLDG).
- Our aim is to maximise our by Sainsbury’s British pre-packed lamb range into the New Year, taking advantage of good British lamb crop this year.
- Each season is different which is why we adjust our sourcing accordingly, for example, by working with our farmers we were able to increase our availably of British lamb compared to last year, particularly in the traditional off-season between January and June.
- Through our SLDG we are investing to improve farm performance and quality to support a sustainable industry.
- Sainsbury’s has supported British farming for 143 years and we continue to work collaboratively throughout our dedicated supply groups.
- Sainsbury’s has ten dedicated agricultural Development Groups with Dairy being the first and most established having been set up in 2007 and currently with 321 farmers.
- Sainsbury’s recently announced a call for apprentices in the horticulture and agriculture industry. Information for employers or apprentices is available from www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/suppliers/sainsburys-horticulture-and-agriculture-apprenticeship-scheme/
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