Asda has announced plans to overhaul its standard own-label range angering suppliers who claim they're being asked to fund new recipes and packaging without being consulted.
The first categories, including beer, spirits, beverages, cereals, biscuits and snacks, will be relaunched in October. In November, confectionery, canned foods, soft drinks, desserts & baking products, frozen chips, veg & meat and ice-cream will follow, before the free-from category in December.
The move follows Asda's overhaul of its Extra Special range last year, when some recipes were improved and the cream packaging was switched to a rich purple.
An email was sent to own-label suppliers on 16 April from Fiona Mannion, commercial director of Asda brand, saying a review had found "clear room for improvement across a number of categories".
The email specified the aims of the relaunch "a key priority for Asda in 2010 is to reaffirm the quality and consistency of all aspects of our own-brand products" and underlined Asda's expectations of its suppliers. "Delivering products that consistently conform to our agreed specification is a prerequisite for doing business with us, so any non-conforming products will require your urgent attention," it said.
However, suppliers have complained they are being made to foot the bill, with little consultation. "This will cost us at least £30,000 and there was no real choice in the matter," said one. "The design agency just invoices us directly."
Another was angry his range was given a facelift in January and would now have to go through another redesign.
It is understood suppliers will not see the new packaging until June or July, when they will be required to confirm to Asda they are on schedule for the roll-out.
Asda declined to give any details about the new look or comment on suppliers' concerns. "We are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of our products," said a spokeswoman.
The first categories, including beer, spirits, beverages, cereals, biscuits and snacks, will be relaunched in October. In November, confectionery, canned foods, soft drinks, desserts & baking products, frozen chips, veg & meat and ice-cream will follow, before the free-from category in December.
The move follows Asda's overhaul of its Extra Special range last year, when some recipes were improved and the cream packaging was switched to a rich purple.
An email was sent to own-label suppliers on 16 April from Fiona Mannion, commercial director of Asda brand, saying a review had found "clear room for improvement across a number of categories".
The email specified the aims of the relaunch "a key priority for Asda in 2010 is to reaffirm the quality and consistency of all aspects of our own-brand products" and underlined Asda's expectations of its suppliers. "Delivering products that consistently conform to our agreed specification is a prerequisite for doing business with us, so any non-conforming products will require your urgent attention," it said.
However, suppliers have complained they are being made to foot the bill, with little consultation. "This will cost us at least £30,000 and there was no real choice in the matter," said one. "The design agency just invoices us directly."
Another was angry his range was given a facelift in January and would now have to go through another redesign.
It is understood suppliers will not see the new packaging until June or July, when they will be required to confirm to Asda they are on schedule for the roll-out.
Asda declined to give any details about the new look or comment on suppliers' concerns. "We are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of our products," said a spokeswoman.
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