Sainsbury's is offering homegrown cherries in its basic tier for the first time, following a breakthrough in negotiations with British growers.

The retailer routinely stocks British cherries for its standard and Taste the Difference premium tiers but previously had to source its basic tier from abroad because UK growers were unwilling to supply it.

For the three weeks from 22 July, Sainsbury's sold nothing but British cherries across its three tiers. It has since had to top up with imported fruit again.

Sainsbury's fruit technologist Theresa Huxley said the company had ­focused on building a good working relationship with growers, which helped ­convince them to sell into its basic tier.

Sainsbury's said its ­market share of UK cherries for the three weeks from 19 July was 43%. It will be about 34% now the company has started using ­imported fruit again.