Top 10% Waitrose

Extracts from a letter written by its Managing Director Mark Price 

“Waitrose believes that farmers have the right to be paid fairly and we have bucked market trends in times of crisis for the industry. For example, earlier this year, we set a rate for its British lamb above market rates, because we felt the market rate was unsustainable for the industry. 

“As British growers struggled with the shock weather last July, we pledged to support growers with damaged crops by selling hail damaged fruit. With the weather showing no signs of improving, we pledged to still take crops at a fair price, and highlight to shoppers – on packaging and in our shops – the reasons for the fruit’s less than perfect appearance.” 

Waitrose received an Attwood Group regional Fair Deal award

 

Left: Waitrose manager, right, dairy farmer

Mr Price added: 

“Throughout 2007, we worked in partnership with Country Living Magazine and Farmers Guardian, on the campaign “Fair Trade for British Farmers”. The campaign was aimed at raising awareness of issues facing British farming, by highlighting that although many of us now choose to buy ethically traded products from abroad, these principles need to be extended to domestic farming. The campaign sought to reinforce that in order to protect the British countryside and rural economy, farmers need to receive a decent price for their produce, according to the principles of `Fairtrade’. 

“Our Public Affairs team will keep informed and in touch with MP Andrew George, with a view to supporting his efforts.” 

Note: 

Andrew George chairs and co-ordinates the “Cross Cutting” Group [CCG] – now called the Grocery Market Action Group - whose member organisations and academics submitted evidence to the Competition Commission’s sector inquiry into the groceries market, highlighting the unfair treatment of suppliers by the big four supermarkets.  

All credit is due to Waitrose for supporting the CCG recommendation to establish a new Supermarket Watchdog, which has been accepted by the Competition Commission and should be in place soon.