Manx food producers fear impact of Tesco Shoprite takeover

Shoprite has run supermarkets on the Isle of Man for fifty years

The sale of Manx supermarket Shoprite to Tesco has put the future of some local producers at risk, the Isle of Man's Chamber of Commerce has said.

Each of the chain's nine stores has been purchased by the British retail giant in a deal announced on Monday.

Chamber of Commerce president Kristan McDonald said the sale has caused uncertainty for producers in the Manx food industry who supplied Shoprite.

Tesco boss Jason Tarry said the firm would "engage with suppliers".

Shoprite has stocked Manx produce since it first opened on the island in 1972, with a limited range available at Tesco's only store in Douglas.

A spokesman for ice cream maker Davisons said the deal was not "particularly good news" for suppliers, adding Shoprite had helped new firms to "get a foot in the market".

'Big difference'

Mr McDonald said Tesco's supply chain was "difficult to get into", and called on the UK retailer to "open up" and stock more Manx produce.

Relying on imported food also raised issues of food security given the likelihood of weather-related travel disruption to the island over winter, he added.

There's been a mixed reaction to the sale, with some local people like Bryan Henlock from Douglas welcoming the move because "Shoprite is too expensive".

"It's a big difference, I am a pensioner, so for me it's fantastic news", he added.

Glynis and Gordon Drinkwater said the cost of their weekly shop would drop

Glynis and Gordon Drinkwater said they were pleased their local Shoprite in Port Erin would become a Tesco to save them a trip into Douglas.

Douglas resident Lukasz Gziut said Tesco was his "go to shop" as many Shoprite products were "higher cost and lower standard".

But he hoped Tesco would take on the local produce sold by the Manx chain.

Lukasz Gziut said he wanted Tesco to continue to support Manx suppliers

Tracy Christino from Douglas said she "did not love" that Shoprite, as a longstanding Manx brand, would soon disappear.

But she added that she liked to shop at Tesco too because of the "broad range" of products.

Tracy Christino said she enjoyed being able to buy local food at Shoprite

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