Marks and Spencer 2008 Annual Report Download - page 20

When it’s
in season,
it’s British.
Sustainable sourcing
In the UK we love cod, but we’re loving it to the point of
extinction. That’s why we’re taking action to protect it and other
endangered species. British waters provide a range of wonderful
seafood to enjoy, and we’ve been working in partnership with the
fishing industry to bring more options from the sea to the plate.
In addition to our work in Scotland to provide sustainable farmed
Lochmuir™ salmon, we’re the largest retailer of Scottish haddock,
and we’ve also been working with the Cornish fishing industry.
For instance, an exercise in rebranding has transformed the once
unpopular pilchards fished in the shallow waters of Penzance
and Mevagissey, into the summertime favourite – Cornish
sardines. The product was always great – it just needed a new
image. In doing this we’ve helped create a viable industry using
a sustainable and under-utilised catch.
At the same time, we’ve been encouraging the Cornish sardine,
and other small-scale fisheries, to achieve Marine Stewardship
Council (MSC) certification. We’ve also asked our suppliers to
create more products using these species, such as Cornish
pollack – an alternative to cod and haddock.
Other projects include the National Lobster Hatchery and ‘Meet
the Fisherman’ days in local stores such as Truro Lemon Quay,
where skippers cook sardines on the quayside and discuss
sustainable sourcing with our customers.
Steven Esom: Executive Director of Food
Steven joined M&S in June 2007 and was appointed to
the Board as Executive Director of Food in March 2008.
Sustainable sourcing is at the heart of our fish business, so
that we not only protect our waters, but the communities that
depend on them.
18 MARKS AND SPENCER GROUP PLC
Everyday value
As part of this move to be a more convenient
place to shop, we have reviewed the prices
of popular shopping basket items to ensure
they are competitive. These items range from
cornflakes and frozen peas, to flavoured
whole roast chickens.
However, we firmly believe that low prices
should never be achieved through a
reduction of quality. So although we’re
responding to market demand on pricing,
we are doing so without any loss of M&S
quality or standards.
The return to cooking
Great food starts with great ingredients –
something our ready meals have long been
famous for. Now with more of our customers
spending longer in the kitchen, we want to
make M&S the one-stop-shop for all of their
cooking needs.
Our new ingredients range gives customers
a choice of more than 300 new ingredients –
from fresh herbs and spices like our lazy
garlic and cinnamon, to bread and cake
mixes – that make it easier to start cooking
from scratch. And it’s easier still with the help
of our M&S recipe cards.
The best of British
From that comfort food favourite, our
outdoor bred Lincolnshire Pork Sausages,
to our hand-made Somerset cheddar, we
go to great lengths to source the very best
speciality foods right on our doorstep. When
it’s in season, it’s British.
M&S is the only major retailer to stock 100%
home grown asparagus in season. We’ve
been working with British growers to extend
the season, so it lasts from April to July –
almost double the length it was five years ago.