Local heroes
Suffolk strikes oil
A new and really versatile cooking oil, Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil from Suffolk Hill Farm, is currently on sale in 50 East of England Tesco stores. And the great news for this area is that it?s locally produced.

Farmer Sam Fairs says, ‘We began producing the oil three years ago and started out by selling it at farmers’ markets, though it wasn’t easy at first
as we had to introduce it as a completely new product. Now it’s available in selected stores all over East Anglia.		 Local heroes
?Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil is a source of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, which helps hold the oil?s
temperature when cooking. The oil is so versatile, there doesn?t seem to be much you can?t do
with it,? adds Sam. ?It?s yellow, like liquid butter. And you can use it to roast your potatoes, fry
your eggs, make your salad dressings, breads or flapjacks.

‘People keep coming back to me saying I’ve tried it in this and that and it works; many say it
makes their muffins even fluffier.’
Making a packet Making a packet
Robert Strathern launched his thick-cut Fairfield Farm
Crisps, made from his own potatoes grown in Colchester, Essex, only eight months before he met Sam Nundy at a
‘Taste of Anglia’ food promotion event.

‘We started out producing small and large bags for farm
shops and pubs. But after doing a deal with Tesco’s
regional team our larger bags are sold in selected stores
all over Essex and Suffolk.’

Robert’s crisps come in four varieties using local
ingredients from Suffolk: Aspall Cyder Vinegar, produced
in the county for eight generations; Suffolk Farmhouse
Cheese and Chive, using soft white cheese made from
the milk of Guernsey cows; Sweet Thai Chilli flavour,
using chillies from the 250 varieties produced in the
region; and Lightly Sea Salted.

‘They’re great crisps – hand-fried in sunflower oil with
their skins on, and 100 per cent natural – we don’t use
any artificial flavour enhancers. Sellinginto Tesco has
increased productionand improved sales, allowing us to
lookforward to the future, when we hope to expand the
range. We are alreadytalking to them about a new
variety, using bacon from a local pig farm.’
Sam NundySam Nundy, 30, is Tesco?s senior buying manager for the East of
England, sourcing local food for Lincolnshire and East Anglia. His
remit covers all food products, including beer and bread as well as
more traditional regional lines such as bacon, pork, sausages, fruit
and veg.

?We?re bringing on local speciality producers. I look for a good quality
product that?s great value, with ingredients sourced and produced locally.

?We also promote nationally sold brands in their own regions. We?re really making a lot of noise about Aspall Cyder in Suffolk, as the drink is made using
a lot of locally sourced apples.

?There?s a growing trend towards local food, for its freshness and quality. It?s about bringing back
local knowledge to the region that customers love.?

• Tesco recently opened five new UK regional buying offices in the South West, East of England, South East, North and the Midlands.
• There are offices in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, too.
• We are always on the lookout for new suppliers. Visit www.tesco.com/regionalsourcing
for more details.