Morrisons Local Foodmakers

Morrisons has announced deals with three Yorkshire suppliers as part of its push to put more local produce on consumers’ plates.

Masons Gin, Grandma Wild’s Biscuits and confectionery manufacturer Parrs Foods have all secured listings in the supermarket’s Yorkshire stores.

The supply deals come after Morrisons pledged to increase the availability of locally produced food as part of its Local Food Makers initiative, which attracted applications from more than 500 small producers in March, 75 of whom were from Yorkshire.

The retailer announced its search for more local suppliers in February, after research found consumers wanted to see more food produced “just down the road” from their communities.

“Morrisons is a Yorkshire business with over 20,000 colleagues in Yorkshire,” said Danny Clee, local solutions manager for Yorkshire. “Our customers tell us they want to see more local food and drink produced in our stores and this programme aims to do just that.”

Masons Gin will be available in 133 Morrisons stores from today [19 June], Grandma Wild’s Biscuits will enter all Yorkshire stores from 26 June, and Parrs Foods honeycomb from 3 July.

It follows Morrisons’ deal with Sheffield-based dairy brand Our Cow Molly to supply the retailer’s first free-range milk to three stores in the city earlier this month.

The brand began delivering milk from its farm to the supermarket’s Hillsborough, Fulwood and Meadowhead stores earlier this month.

Morrisons said it expected to announce more Yorkshire suppliers later this year.