Alarm among Isle of Man farmers over Tesco Shoprite takeover

Local farmers have supplied food to Shoprite stores since 1972

There has been "considerable alarm" among farmers over the sale of supermarket chain Shoprite to Tesco, a farming union has said.

It was announced on Monday, a deal had been reached with the British retail giant to purchase the chain's nine stores across the Isle of Man.

The Manx National Farmers' Union (MNFU) said the deal presented "a significant risk" to local food production.

Tesco said it would "engage with suppliers" and "the wider community".

The Manx government said the retailer planned to increase the local offering in the stores.

Shoprite chains have stocked a variety of local produce since opening in 1972.

'Utter shock'

Its sale has led to uncertainty among long-term Manx suppliers.

The MNFU said: "We will continue to lobby for better product representation, value recognition and fair access to the marketplace for our Manx produce, both in the private sector and with our government."

The union's president Ian Parsons said the news had come as a "complete and utter shock" to farmers.

He said he was "disappointed" with the government and called on politicians "to convene an emergency meeting with all producers and processors" to discuss the next steps and "protect existing business in the Isle of Man".

Tesco has previously only had one store on the island, which opened in Douglas in 2000

Food Minister Clare Barber said it was working with the Department for Enterprise to make sure the change from Shoprite to Tesco was "supported".

She said it had been in contact with Tesco, which assured government it was "committed to local products" and aimed to increase the local offering.

MHK David Ashford has tabled an urgent question to Tynwald next week, asking what government is doing to ensure suppliers are protected.

He said for a number of local businesses Shoprite was their "only route to market" and he did not want that "being closed off to them".

"I'll be pushing for the Department for Enterprise and the Department of Food and Agriculture to begin those conversations with Tesco," he said.

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