Waitrose is starting to producing frozen beef from its own dedicated production facility in Dovecote Park, with the aim of ensuring full traceability of the product.
The move follows the horse meat scandal earlier this year. Although no horsemeat was found in Waitrose products, it decided to put in place a system to ensure full traceability of meat in its supply chain.
The operation means that the retailer’s fresh and frozen beef will now be handled entirely by one supplier, which Waitrose says will create one of the shortest supply chains among UK supermarkets, since it will reduce the distance between farm gate and supermarket shelf.
“For our customers this is fully traceable as it’s controlled by one processor, said Heather Jenkins, buying director for meat, poultry, fish, frozen, dairy and agriculture, Waitrose.
“It shortens the supply chain and gives our customers total reassurance about where their beef has come from.
“Our customers rightly expect the highest standards of product quality and integrity from us and we won’t let anything stand in the way of delivering this.”
