Asda Brings In local lad to champion South West local products

Alan Jackson, Buying Manager, will work for Asda to help small- and medium-sized food and drink businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, along with Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol, to sell their products on the shelves at Asda stores in the region, and beyond.

Working alongside the stores in the South West, Alan – who grew in Somerset – will be using his local knowledge to help bring fresh and tasty locally produced or grown products to local Asda supermarkets, supporting local communities in the process.

Alan commented: "I'm a proud South Westerner and have always loved championing the local produce – everyone has heard of Cornish pasties, but there’s so much more and you can’t beat a good Cream Tea, local cheese or a local Cider!

“I am looking forward to enhancing the existing range and bringing more pride to this beautiful part of the world.

“There are already so many excellent suppliers and products across the region; it’s all about finding those hidden gems and getting them into Asda is really rewarding for both the supplier and our loyal customers.

“If we find a local product our customers will like, we can have it on our store shelves within eight weeks flat in some cases!”

"Ultimately my goal is to make our customers proud when they walk into their local store, proud to be from the South West and proud that Asda continues to provide huge support for local producers and the local community.”

Alan has worked at Asda for xx years, in a variety of buying roles for the company.

Rick Banks, senior buying manager for local England and Wales, commented: "We are committed to supporting local suppliers across the country, including in the South West, ensuring that the local communities we serve have access to high quality local produce at low prices.

“Asda takes pride in providing good quality food for our customers. And we want to make sure that putting a healthy, great tasting meal on your family table doesn’t cost the earth. Our goal is to search out the best local products we can find for you.”

“Alan is originally from the South West and is very passionate about where he is from and what he does, so he's absolutely perfect for the role."

Asda currently works with around 600 local suppliers in the UK, stocking over 6,000 different local products – stocking a delicious variety of regional meats, cheeses, yoghurts, sausages, pickles, ice cream, cakes, and beer.

For more information on working with Asda as a local supplier, go to: https://sustainability.asda.com/local-sourcing

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