Government welcomes petition amid calls for supermarkets to do more for Isle of Man products
The Manx National Farmers' Union says, while some retailers stock Manx products, the market has 'shrunk significantly' in the last few years.
In Tynwald next month, Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh will ask the court to ensure all UK supermarkets operating on the Island procure, supply and promote Isle of Man produce.
It follows a petition organised by the Manx National Farmers’ Union which garnered over 1,800 signatures during this year's Southern and Royal Agricultural Shows.
It centred on a statistic revealed by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture; that approximately six percent of the food retailed on the Isle of Man is produced in the Island.
Mr Wannenburgh told Manx Radio why he's bringing this forward now:
General Secretary of the Manx National Farmers' Union, Sarah Comish, says the food sector needs 'stability and confidence' in the future:
In response, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture says:
The Isle of Man Government shares the Manx National Farmers’ Union’s (MNFU) ambition to see more of the food consumed on the Island produced here.
We welcome public discussion on food security and support efforts that encourage people to value and choose Manx produce. The petition is a clear signal that residents care about where their food comes from, and we remain committed to working in partnership with farmers, food producers and the wider food and drink sector to build a stronger, more self-reliant system.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s (DEFA) Food Security Plan and Agricultural Strategy set out a long-term vision to increase the availability and resilience of locally produced food. It aims to ensure our food system is sustainable, fair, and able to respond to global pressures that threaten food supply.
Through Business Isle of Man, the Department for Enterprise maintains regular dialogue with the Island’s major food retailers to enable greater availability of Manx produce in line with their own established standards, and welcomes their continued commitment to achieving this.
Although regulation is difficult in an open market, the Government (DEFA) has supported a range of local businesses to supply supermarkets through the SALSA accreditation process. Ultimately, decisions around supplying supermarkets rest with individual businesses, and while these choices are outside direct Government control, we will continue to encourage collaboration that benefits local producers and consumers.
Farmer, Kirree Kermode, says it's important that residents on the Isle of Man have good access to Manx produce:
Word from the supermarkets
Marks and Spencer says it's doing further work to promote Manx produce after launching its new food hall in Douglas, clad in Isle of Man-based branding.
Read more HERE.
Meanwhile, Isle of Man Meats has launched a new range of Manx beef and pork products in Tesco stores this month.
You might have spotted it already, produce such as; sausages, bacon, burgers and meatballs, produced using 100 percent Manx beef and pork grown by local farmers - work is underway to expand the range to include more Manx lamb.
It says this development marks a further step forward in Isle of Man Meats’ ongoing work to strengthen the Island’s food security, support local farmers, and increase public access to Manx produce.
Image: Damien Corcoran Chairman of the Isle of Man Meat Company and Richard Frear Tesco Area Manager
Michael Barker, General Manager of Isle of Man Meats, says: “This is a positive milestone for the Island’s farming community and for everyone who values Manx produce. It means more local meat on the shelves, more often, and makes it easier for households to choose Manx as part of their weekly shop.
“The products use simple, straightforward recipes that let the natural quality of Manx beef and pork come through. Our farmers work hard to produce excellent livestock, raised on pasture within our UNESCO Biosphere environment, and it’s important that this value is recognised and supported across the Island. We are committed to continuing to make steady progress, step by step, to rebuild trust, strengthen supply, and support a secure future for Manx food.”
Bethany Auger, Buying Manager at Tesco, says: “We’re really proud to be supporting local Manx suppliers following our expansion to ten stores on the Isle of Man. We’ve have a good relationship with Isle of Man Meat Company, and we believe these new products offer great quality and value and give customers on the island the chance to buy local meat which we know is so important to them.”
Tesco, which took over Shoprite stores in 2023, currently stocks more than 100 Manx products.
James Lamont, Head of Local Sourcing at Tesco, says: “We are extremely proud of the work that we have done with local producers on the Isle of Man and the relationships that we have built. The quality of Manx produce is exceptional, so I’m really pleased to bring this new range to customers. We know demand is there from customers for more Manx produce and we have some exciting plans for next year which will continue to add more to the Tesco range.”
Damien Corcoran, Chairman of the Isle of Man Meat Company, says: “We have built a genuinely strong working relationship with Tesco over the past year. James and the Buying Team, along with Richard the Area Manager and his Operations Team, have been excellent partners throughout – understanding the steps the Board needed to take to stabilise and strengthen the Company, and showing patience while we reshaped the operation to consistently deliver high-quality products.
“We knew from day one that achieving reliable quality across every Tesco store - and online - would require deep operational change. Over the last year, we have appointed a new Senior Leadership Team, brought in skilled expertise, invested further in our existing colleagues, and made significant improvements to how the Plant runs. These changes have allowed us to reach a point where we can confidently launch this new range.
“The seven new lines being introduced in Tesco now represent a clear milestone in our progress. They are also a testament to the hard work, resilience, and professionalism of our team in the Plant. They have faced considerable change, yet they continue to rise to the challenge of supporting food security for the Isle of Man. I want to publicly thank every member of the team for their skill, commitment, and pride in their craft.
“We have designed this range to support local Farmers, to celebrate Manx culture and language through our packaging, and to serve customers who want the assurance that they are buying genuinely Manx meat. At the same time, our goal is to build a product range that is both sustainable and financially viable for the long term.
“While our work to improve the Isle of Man Meat Company continues, this moment is an important step forward. I would encourage all residents who wish to support the Manx economy to try our new products in their local Tesco store. Once again, my thanks go to the dedicated team in the Plant and to Tesco for their ongoing support and partnership.”
Butchers' concerns over supply
Earlier this month, two Manx butchers raised concerns about the availability and suitability of Manx pork, prompting changes to some of their products.
Andreas Meats Co says it switched to UK pork loins for its bacon and hams due to what it described as a shortage of Manx pork and supplies from Isle of Man Meats.
Meanwhile, Lee Mayers Butchers in Kirk Michael also highlighted supply difficulties, saying it is still stocking Manx meat but, due to delays, would be using UK imports only during busy periods.
Read more HERE.
Manx Radio has contacted the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for comment.
Mr Wannenburgh's motion will be put before Tynwald during next month's sitting which gets underway on Tuesday, 9 December.
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