Northern Ireland Farmers Protest Asda Over Alleged Exclusion of Local Produce

A group of farmers has protested at an Asda supermarket, alleging that the company is removing certain Northern Ireland produce from its Christmas inventory. The demonstration took place outside the retailer’s supermarket and depot in Larne, County Antrim, with farmers stating that locally-grown potatoes are being substituted with more affordable options from Great Britain. According to farmer Stephen Christie, Asda’s decision would “make it very difficult for farming families” during the Christmas period. In response, Asda stated that the “overwhelming majority” of potatoes available in its Northern Ireland outlets are sourced locally. The company also acknowledged “the frustration from local growers around imported produce being used” in its Christmas promotional offers and committed to engaging in discussions with the Ulster Farmers’ Union regarding the matter. Stephen Christie informed BBC News NI that the supermarket was “undermining our business” by importing potatoes from Great Britain. He further stated, “We grow all year for Christmas, there should be good business for us.” Christie emphasized, “They should be supporting local produce over Christmas.” Those involved in the campaign asserted that the shift to more economical imported produce during the festive season was “definitely going to affect” farmers financially. Sammy Wilson, the local MP, attended the protest to demonstrate his support for the farmers and commented that Asda had “questions to answer.” Wilson remarked, “Asda are supplying local customers. They’ve got local suppliers who could make potatoes available to those customers and they’ve decided that rather than buy locally they’re going to buy from England.” He continued, “The main part of the year for their market is Christmas and they’re being excluded by a big supermarket.” Wilson concluded, “This goes totally against the promises which supermarkets make about buying local.” Mr. Wilson suggested that forcing farmers out of business in the long term would “make food sustainability much more difficult.” An Asda spokesperson issued a statement, saying: “The overwhelming majority of our potatoes sold in Northern Irish stores are locally sourced and we are proud to support local growers in Northern Ireland all year round.” The spokesperson also mentioned that Asda introduced a Christmas vegetable offer “to support families when they need it most.” The statement continued, “We understand the frustration from local growers around imported produce being used in these offers and have been listening carefully to their feedback over the past few days.” It concluded, “We have agreed to discuss these concerns further with the UFU (Ulster Farmers’ Union) early in the new year.”