The boss of one of the largest UK retailers has pledged to source more meat from closer to home and plans to implement a strategy to examine the supply chain.

Speaking at the NFU conference in Birmingham, Philip Clarke, Chief Executive of Tesco, told farmers Tesco would be reviewing their supply chains to offer longer contracts and more transparency.

He also said the retailer would be appointing an agriculture director to oversee the introduction of new development groups in vegetables, fruit and salads describing it as a ‘partnership between farmers and Tesco’.

Speaking about the changes, Mr Clarke said; “It needs to be a true partnership as we’re only as good as the products we sell.”

He continued, pledging to source all fresh chicken sold from British farms and source British meat ‘where it is reasonable to do so’.

The announcement comes at a time the industry and public are in turmoil over the recent horse meat scandals and Tesco will be in the spotlight to deliver these changes which should boost consumer confidence and make it a more sustainable, level playing field for producers.