July 06, 2017 Industry news
As more national retailers look to enlist local and regional suppliers, we’re seeing more SMEs become members of GS1 UK
Looking to recruit more suppliers is a growing trend. Online marketplaces and the major retailers, like Waitrose, Asda and Co-op, are at the forefront of providing more local choices for their customers. Morrisons, for example, recently set out their goal to recruit 200 more local suppliers in the UK.
Why are retailers doing this now?
Over the years, customer behaviour and demands have started to change. Now, shoppers are keen to know the provenance of the food and drink they buy. In a recent GS1 UK report, Buying British, we heard three-fifths of customers say where the product is from is just as important as price and quality.
But it’s not just about knowing where the product is from – customers are also keen to support local producers. From our same report, 55% of shoppers said they prefer buying UK brands so they can support British businesses.
Although retailers are seeking to respond to their customers’ changing needs, they’re also finding that working with local suppliers is good for business and benefitting society too. Recruiting more local suppliers helps to provide more food that is grown, made, picked and packaged within a 30-60-mile radius from their local store. Retailers are now on the lookout for the best local suppliers to hopefully grow with them in the future – benefitting the local community.
The need to join GS1 UK
GS1 standards have been supporting the grocery sector ever since the first barcode was introduced 40 years ago. We work with the industry to create a common way of doing business, to make it quicker, easier and cheaper to trade.
Just like today’s shoppers and retailers, we’re also keen to support local producers. We work closely with start-ups and SMEs to help them understand how GS1 standards can benefit their business. We do this in many ways, including our webinars for new GS1 UK members, and supporting retailers like Morrison’s who are busy recruiting new suppliers. We aim to help local producers start trading as quickly as possibly by building a strong relationship with all the major retailers.
Read more about our membership