Co-op has launched best-of-season potato packs to make greater use of a wider range of home-grown potato varieties.
The supermarket said it was a first for UK retail and supported its efforts to maintain British supply all year round.
The ‘best of season’ packs are in stores now and are curated for how they will be cooked with Roasting, Mashing, Baking, Salad and Everyday potato packs.
Each pack will contain one “carefully selected variety”, selected for its suitability for the cooking method, which will flex throughout the seasons, to ensure the best-quality potato in season will be included.
The varieties will include jelly, tyson, karelia and maris piper.
The Roasting packs will feature maris piper when at its best, before transitioning into newer varieties such as tyson and karelia as the season changes. Everyday potato packs will include white varieties that are known to be versatile across multiple cooking methods.
“We recognise that UK growers have been under pressure in recent years – by switching to newer, more resilient British varieties and focusing on how potatoes are used, we can offer more consistent quality, reduce waste for our members and customers, as well as offer greater flexibility for growers,” said Scott Saunders, Co-op senior buying manager for potatoes.
Co-op said the approach recognised that some long-established varieties no longer delivered consistent quality year-round and could be difficult to grow reliably in the UK, contributing to many retailers relying on imports from overseas.
The move will also enable growers to benefit from higher yields, fewer inputs or improved resistance to pests and disease, it added.
The launch has been welcomed by industry body GB Potatoes as farmers face continued pressure and ongoing challenges.
“The move by Co-op recognises the quality of British-grown potatoes and supports the long-term sustainability and profitability of UK potato production,” said Alex Godfrey, chair of GB Potatoes. “With potatoes offering versatility and excellent value for money, helping consumers understand that different varieties are suited to different uses is a positive step that will strengthen the category.”
The decision follows a year of in-store trials and taste panels with shoppers, working with Co-op’s supplier Greenvale to test quality, flavour and performance.
“Towards the end of the season, potato quality can become less reliable, and retailers often rely more heavily on imports for more specific named varieties, while waiting for the new crop to be ready,” said Sean Liddell, growing manager at Greenvale. “By embracing newer varieties, we can allow for greater flexibility and ensure shoppers enjoy consistently good-quality, UK-grown potatoes all year round.”
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