Business

Tesco suppliers will treat taste festival as showcase to British buyers

Tesco NI commercial manager Sean Largey
Tesco NI commercial manager Sean Largey Tesco NI commercial manager Sean Largey

EXHIBITORS at today's Tesco Taste Festival will be hoping to have their products picked up by some of the retailers most senior buyers.

The event will be attended by several of Tesco's top buyers from Britain - with a combined buying power of more than £1 billion.

It means the event, started as a way of showcasing Northern Ireland produce to the public, could catapult some lines to greater things in Britain.

Tasked with ensuring Tesco shoppers in Britain have great choice and innovation in food, the senior manager are attending the festival where they will meet with more than 60 suppliers and producers from across the north.

It is the biggest contingent of buyers from the company’s headquarters ever to attend the festival and is being seen by organisers as an indication of the growing reputation of Northern Ireland produce.

Tesco Northern Ireland commercial manager Sean Largey said the festival had "long been complemented by our GB colleagues as a stellar example of the Tesco commitment to its suppliers and championing regional food".

He said: "Their interest in it has grown year-on-year. The largest ever number of senior buyers will be at this year’s event.

“Exporting is high on the agenda for many of our local suppliers as they look to expand and grow their business.

"Northern Ireland’s produce is becoming ever more present on GB supermarket shelves and we pride ourselves on how vocal we are about the wealth of food and drink from our shores, raising our suppliers’ profiles with Tesco decision-makers in GB and the Republic of Ireland and helping artisan suppliers get a foot on the path to a supermarket listing."

The festival takes place at Custom House Square, Belfast starting today at 2pm and running until Sunday.