New Report Exposes Retail Gaps
While I welcome the findings of NFU Scotland’s ShelfWatch 2025-26 report, I’ve issued a challenge to major retailers to drastically increase their stock of Scottish produce.
The comprehensive annual report, which audited over 100,000 products across the past year, revealed a stark disparity in how supermarkets support Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
While the average proportion of Scottish own-label products sits at just 26%, the report highlights that high domestic sourcing is not only possible but commercially successful.
It is Aldi and the Co-op that are leading the way, with Aldi identified as the champion of Scottish produce with 65% of its products sourced north of the border, including 100% of its eggs and potatoes. The Co-op was also lauded for its “Scottish-first” approach, with less than 2% of its goods being imported.
However, the report also exposed significant “sourcing gaps” at other major chains. Asda and Tesco were noted for higher reliance on imports, at 23% and 16% respectively, while the pork and lamb categories across the board showed a disappointing lack of Scottish-reared options.
The ShelfWatch findings are a wake-up call for the retail sector. While I applaud Aldi and the Co-op for their gold-standard commitment to our farmers, it is disappointing that the average Scottish presence on our shelves is as low as 26%.
Our farmers and crofters produce some of the highest-quality food in the world, under the highest environmental and animal welfare standards.
When supermarkets choose to bypass local producers in favour of imports, they aren’t just letting down our rural economy – they are denying Scottish consumers the fresh, sustainable produce they clearly want.
I am calling on all retailers to adopt a ‘Scottish-first’ sourcing policy and, in particular, I have written to the chief executive officers of Asda and Tesco asking that they stock more Scottish produce and clearly label it.
This would help end the confusing ‘co-mingling’ of Scottish and imported goods and ensuring that ‘Product of Scotland’ isn’t just a marketing slogan, but a prominent reality on every aisle. If Aldi can achieve 65% Scottish sourcing, there is no reason why others cannot follow suit.
In the face of a climate emergency and the need for food security, supporting local supply chains is no longer optional. I will be writing to the executives of those supermarkets lagging behind to ask what steps they are taking to bring their Scottish sourcing in line with the industry leaders.
Additional Information:
The SNP supports NFU Scotland’s key demands for retailers, including:
- A Scottish-First Sourcing Policy: Prioritising local goods over imports.
- Clearer Labelling: Ending the use of “mixed-origin” labels that confuse shoppers.
- Fair Pricing: Ensuring that farmgate prices reflect the cost of production and the quality of the goods.
ShelfWatch 2025-26 is NFU Scotland’s flagship initiative monitoring the sourcing of Scottish produce across eight major UK retailers.
The 2025-26 audit reviewed over 100,000 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units).
Key findings revealed that 80% of eggs and milk audited were Scottish, but less than 5% of own-label pork was Scottish.
The full report can be accessed via NFU Scotland.
