Tesco Will Sell GBP 400 Mln of Local Products in 2008

Tesco and other supermarket chains have been criticized for sourcing cheaper products from abroad, rather than supporting the local farming industry.

 Since launching "Local Sourcing"
just over a year ago, Tesco's new buying offices around the country
have created more than 1,000 local product lines, found 90 new
suppliers and held more than 60 "Meet the Farmer" events in
stores, Tesco said in a prepared statement.

Tesco has opened five new local buying
offices and set up a fund to facilitate investment in small
suppliers and help them grow, as well as creating local technical
teams dedicated to working with them.