'Back British' says new Bake Off presenter Prue Leith

The UK’s four largest retailers - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons - are joined by the Co-op, Waitrose, Lidl and Marks and Spencer in demonstrating their commitment to British baking by giving shoppers the choice of home-grown flour, butter and eggs to use in their baked goods. 

Asda, Marks and Spencer and Morrisons are going further, showing commitment to British sugar beet growers by sourcing Silver Spoon granulated, caster and icing sugar in their stores. See who stocks what here.

Baking is more popular than ever, with 19 per cent of people telling a Waitrose survey that they now bake at least once a week, and nearly half baking more than they did five years ago.

NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “It is fantastic to see more retailers than ever backing British farming and supporting our farmers' produce on the shelves. British food is produced to some of the highest standards in the world and deserves to be widely available.

“We know that shoppers want to buy more British produce and the aim of our supermarket guide is to give them the information they need to do that. I’m sure the public will be delighted to know that retailers giving them the opportunity to buy more British products by getting behind the nation’s farmers.”

Prue Leith, long-time supporter of the NFU’s #BackBritishFarming campaign and new presenter of the Great British Bake Off, also urged shoppers to buy British: “UK butter, flour and eggs are all easily available and choosing them really helps our fantastic farmers. So let’s make the effort to buy British,” she said.

While there is strong support for backing British flour, butter and eggs, only M&S have committed to use 100% British sugar in their own brands. Aldi have said they will look at their British flour offering.

The second instalment of the supermarket guides produced by the NFU asked nine major retailers, six of whom have signed the Back British Farming charter, where they source their produce and what percentage that accounts for on the shelves, providing the public with the information they need to help them to buy British.

As sourcing policies are continually changing, the guide will be updated to best reflect the reality in-store. Mr Raymond added: “The overall message is to buy British and the NFU’s supermarket guides aim to help provide that information.

“I encourage everyone to look out for the Red Tractor logo to ensure their food is produced to the highest standards and welfare, and can be traced back to a British farm.”