Tesco has come under fire for not stocking enough Scottish red meat during the coronavirus pandemic.
The retail giant has sparked anger among NFU Scotland’s (NFUS) north-east regional board after it received reports there was no Scottish beef on display in Tesco’s Ellon store.
NFUS north-east regional chairman Andrew Connon said he visited the store to investigate the claims and found there was no Scottish beef or lamb available during his trip.
“To my disgust there wasn’t a single pack of Scottish beef; all was either British or Irish,” said Mr Connon.
“And on the lamb shelves I could see no Scottish lamb, just British and New Zealand lamb.”
He said a second visit to the store a few days later revealed the same situation with beef.
However, a few packets of Scottish lamb were available among the 135 packets on the shelves.
“What really bugs me is that the price paid to farmers for prime cattle in recent weeks has come down again, with farmers being told there is no demand,” Mr Connon said.
“I fully understand the loss of catering contracts and the closure of fast-food outlets, hotels and restaurants, must make a big difference to beef demand, but we are also told that there is no market for steaks and roasting joints.
“It’s little wonder when we find a retailer as prominent as Tesco with no Scottish beef on the shelves.”
He said all retailers should prioritise local sourcing and they have a social responsibility to support domestic food production.
“Ellon is in the heart of one of the most concentrated beef-finishing areas in the UK, and to find Tesco’s Ellon store with no Scottish beef is an absolute disgrace,” added Mr Connon.
A Tesco spokesman said: “We are really proud to offer our customers a wide selection of Scottish meat and would like to thank our suppliers for their efforts through this challenging time.
“For example, all our fresh beef remains Scottish or British.”
