Tesco ditches British sugar – and customers aren’t happy about it
Tesco will now stock sugar refined by Tate & Lyle, from cane grown in countries such as Belize
TESCO has stopped selling Silver Spoon sugar - the only sugar made from British sugar beet.
Instead, the supermarket giant will stock imported sugar refined in east London by Tate & Lyle, from cane grown thousands of miles away in countries such as Belize.
The decision has angered bosses at British Sugar - which sells its sugar products under the name of Silver Spoon - not least because one of Tesco’s largest superstores is across the road from the Suffolk factory where Silver Spoon is made.
Tesco customers haven't reacted well to the news, either.
Many have taken to Tesco's social media pages to blast the company for its "disgraceful" behaviour.
One shopper said: "Why ditch a home grown brand for something that comes from across the world - increased food miles, increased pollution from vehicles and letting down OUR farmers and economy??"
Another said: "Why should people support Tesco if you don't support British farmers and local communities? You should be ashamed."
Tesco responded to complainants saying: "We've been reviewing our sugar range to make sure that we're offering the products our customers want, at the price and quality they expect, and have decided to change our supplier from Silver Spoon to Tate & Lyle."
British Sugar managing director Paul Kenward told : "We didn’t decide not to supply Tesco – Tesco decided not to stock us.
"The supermarkets in their marketing make a great play of supporting British food and locally grown produce. But all too often – when it comes to a contract stage and they get presented with a choice – for fractions of pennies they will go the other way.”
Kenward suggested growers should take some comfort in the fact that bagged sugar accounted for only about 15 per cent of the UK sugar market – much less than the market for industrial syrups and sweeteners supplied by British Sugar to food and drink manufacturers.
NFU Sugar Board chairman, Michael Sly said: “NFU Sugar and its growers are hugely disappointed that Tesco is no longer selling Silver Spoon sugar which is proudly grown by British sugar beet producers.
“Not only is it a great product, the sugar beet industry makes an important contribution to the rural economy and supports 9,500 jobs across eastern England.”
A Tesco spokesperson told The Sun Online: "Our aim is to always provide the best possible quality and prices to our customers.
"We continue to scrutinise any proposed cost increases from our suppliers to avoid any unjustified or unnecessary increases in price."
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