Sainsbury’s has announced plans to increase its supply of British-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers through new ten-year partnerships with UK producers Evesham Vale Growers and Thanet Earth. The move aims to strengthen the supermarket’s supply chain amid concerns over drought-related disruptions affecting imported produce.

The agreements are intended to ensure a steady availability of key salad vegetables, which have faced challenges due to severe weather impacting crops and transportation from international suppliers. British-grown tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers already form a significant part of Sainsbury’s salad range, but extreme conditions in warmer growing regions have highlighted the need for more resilient sourcing strategies.

A notable aspect of the partnership is the extension of British cucumber availability beyond the traditional summer season. Thanet Earth, located in Kent and known as the UK’s largest single-site glasshouse complex, will produce a new winter crop for the first time. This development is expected to reduce reliance on imports during colder months.

The benefits of the collaboration are anticipated to be visible as early as this summer with the introduction of the Taste the Difference British Salad Selection 800g box in stores. Hannah O’Reilly, Sainsbury’s category director of produce, emphasized the role of investing in local production and innovation in creating a stronger, more reliable supply chain.

Rob James, technical director at Thanet Earth, highlighted the advantage of the new arrangement, noting it provides greater certainty and enables better long-term planning.

Overall, Sainsbury’s initiative reflects a broader trend among retailers to secure domestic agricultural partnerships to mitigate risks associated with climate variability and geopolitical factors affecting global food supply chains.