Major supermarkets are increasing their sourcing and promotion of Scottish food products, according to the latest ShelfWatch campaign results.
The scheme, led by NFU Scotland, has seen supermarkets expand their Scottish product ranges and introduce new lines, following sustained engagement and monitoring through the campaign.
Andrew Connon, president of NFU Scotland, said: “ShelfWatch is proving that constructive engagement works.
“Retailers know we are measuring performance, publishing results and recognising progress.
“That is changing conversations and, importantly, changing what is appearing on supermarket shelves.”
Fresh milk is a standout category, with more than 80% of fresh milk sold in Scottish stores now labelled as Scottish.
Egg sourcing is also rising and is approaching 75%.
Aldi continues to lead the way, sourcing 100% Scottish potatoes, eggs, milk and cream.
Tesco has increased its Scottish potato sourcing by 15%, while Lidl now sources more than 91% of its chicken from Scotland.
All retailers continue to source 100% British fresh chicken, and the outlook is similarly positive for other key commodities such as soft fruit, pork and red meat.
M&S recently overtook Co-op to reach 98% in these categories.
Retailers are also expanding opportunities for Scottish suppliers.
Asda has introduced more than 200 new Scottish product lines, while Morrisons is trialling a Scottish-first merchandising approach.
Tesco has added Scottish-labelled pork, and Aldi has extended its partnership with Browns Group for Scotch Prime Pork for another three years.
Connon said there is still room for improvement.
He said: “The direction of travel is positive, but there is more to do.
“Scottish farmers produce world-class food and we know provenance matters to many shoppers.
“We want consumers who choose to buy Scottish to be able to identify those products easily, with clear labelling and good visibility in stores.”
ShelfWatch also monitors shelf prices to highlight the importance of fair pricing, especially where Government proposals for food price caps or excessive discounting risk putting pressure back through the supply chain.
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