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Sainsbury's announces new Scottish buying team at the Royal Highland Show

Sainsbury

23 June 2006

Sainsbury's has stepped up its relationship with Scottish food suppliers with the opening of a dedicated Scotland Buying Unit. In April, Sainsbury's revealed that it now sources more than 1,000 products from local suppliers which are going to double by the end of the year, so that more Scottish food is at the heart of its 24 stores.
The new Scotland Buying Unit demonstrates Sainsbury's commitment to local suppliers and customers following a 2.1%* rise in market share for Sainsbury's in Scotland in the last year.
The team will be made up of six full time employees, headed by regional buying manager James Laws who hails from Edinburgh, and is familiar with the Agri-Food sector in Scotland. James will be joined by new Scottish buyer, Vicky Lawless, who has previously been a produce and grocery buyer at Sainsbury's and Duty Manager of Sainsbury's Straiton store more recently.
The team will also consist of Paul Gordon, who is the Scottish team's category and marketing assistant, and three supply chain colleagues will help support the management of the logistics operation in Scotland.The team is dedicated to ensuring that Sainsbury's is developing the right range of food for the fast-growing 500,000 customers that shop with Sainsbury's each week. The team will also look at maximising the sourcing and promotion of Scottish sourced and branded food.
James Laws, regional buying manager, said:
"We have been in discussion with Scottish suppliers on an ongoing basis and I know that they will appreciate having a dedicated team based in Scotland with whom they can do business. The food sector in Scotland is an exciting one and producers here have a track record of producing high quality and innovative products. By working even more closely with producers we will be able to help them to get even more Scottish products onto Sainsbury's shelves.
"The Buying Unit will cement the relationship we have with local suppliers and help bring ever more exciting and high quality products to Scottish customers."
Sainsbury's Regional Operations Manager, Donny Rumsby, welcomed the move.
"Fourteen years ago we opened our first Scottish store in Darnley and at the outset we said we were determined to contribute to the Scottish economy. We now spend approximately £350 million each year on local products and the opening of this unit is the next step in ensuring that Sainsbury's, our customers and our suppliers get full value out of our relationship with home grown producers. After six consecutive quarters of positive like for like sales and market share growth, we now have the capability to grow the business further, particularly in Scotland where we have seen higher than average growth in our business and customers are really responding to what we're doing."
Photo opportunity:
The new Scottish buying team along with Donny Rumsby, Scotland's Regional Operations Manager and Andy Coleman, Retail Managing Director (Scotland) will be available for images.
Notes to Editors:
Footnote:* TNS have recorded our market share as the following:2005 - Sainsbury's 3.6% market share in Scotland2006 - Sainsbury's 5.7% market share in Scotland
Enquiries:
Hannah Chance07914 398 289Sainsbury's Press Office020 7695 7295.
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