Tesco withdraws potato chips

Tue, 19 Sep 2006
 
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A Hertfordshire based crisp company has branded Tesco "devious" after it stocked its brand without permission.

Will Chase, founder of Tyrrells Potato Chips, threatened to sue the supermarket after finding it was stocking his crisps despite him asking them not to in a meeting with representatives earlier this year, the Guardian reported.

Chase said that he had asked Tesco not to stock his product as the brand had been established by using a network of 6,000 independent retailers as well as through a partnership with Waitrose, a supermarket that prides itself on its relationships with local producers.

According to the paper, Tesco had been sourcing the crisps from a wholesaler . It has now withdrawn the product.

Chase told the Guardian "It was very devious. They should be leading by example. We had a meeting with Tesco and said we don’t want to be in their shops . They then just went and put us on their shelves."

For its part, Tesco said it was "surprised" by Chase’s comments, claiming that he had "not told the full story", however, the supermarket confirmed that it would no longer be stocking Tyrrells Potato Chips.

"If Tyrrells do not want to sell to Tesco we will of course respect that decision," the company said.

Chase, a former potato grower, said he was forced out of the business six years ago by multiple retailers sourcing abroad to cut costs.

His crisp business now makes a 35 per cent return and an annual turnover of £10m.

Talking to the Guardian, Chase highlighted the climate of fear that exists among suppliers not wishing to lose contracts for criticising supermarket tactics. He said: "Nobody is going to pull them up for their behaviour because they will get de-listed as a supplier ."

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