Tesco to ease beans import terms

UK supermarket giant Tesco is to ease its rules on what sort of green beans it will import from Kenya in future.

The chain says its new initiative will save 135 tonnes of edible fine crop from going to waste each year and should ease the burden facing Kenyan growers trying to produce to specified sizes.

Until recently, Kenyan growers were required to deliver fine beans within a specific size range and to trim them before being packed and shipped to Britain.

This move was originally made as a convenience measure to help customers, but after listening to them, Tesco found they prefer their beans uncut.

As part of an ongoing review of its food sourcing policy, Tesco has widened the length specifications and stopped the trimming, resulting in the huge saving.

Tesco Commercial Director for Fresh Food Matt Simister said: “This new partnership with our growers in Kenya is a great example of how we are delivering on that promise to customers, while also ensuring we prevent food that could be eaten, going to waste.

Use much of edible crop
“Our overall aim is to use as much of the edible crop as possible. In some cases, we believe that our specifications - such as with the fine beans - can be widened to accommodate more of the crop.

“If there is a surplus, we will work with suppliers to find an outlet – for example, by connecting our growers with our fresh and frozen suppliers for it to be used in foods such as ready meals.”

As a result of the new measures being adopted, 15 per cent of the bean will no longer go to waste.

A spokesman for Tesco, which used to operate a number of chains in Kenya until 2007, was unable to provide an exact figure for the amount of beans the company imports from each year, but did say that the bean market is worth nearly £40 million to the Kenyan farmers each year.

Kenya makes up 60 per cent of the worldwide total of imported green beans. The UK- based supermarket says it is also restructuring the way it orders from suppliers.

“We’ve also improved how we forecast and order to help producers cut down on waste by only growing and harvesting what is required,” Mr Simister said.

“In the case of Kenyan fine bean growers we have overhauled the ordering process. This means the beans can be sent straight to our distribution centres, cutting time out of the supply chain and providing customers with a fresher product.”