THIS newspaper has presented many opinions regarding Tenbury as a suitable site for a modern grocery retail outlet.

Obviously the Tesco brand has featured in these discussions, being a likely occupant of the old auction site. A little history for general information. Tesco first started trading as a brand in 1924 when Mr T E Stockwell sold Mr Jack Cohen a consignment of tea for onward sale. The brand is made up from parts of their names Tes + Co.

I’d like to offer a more general observation regarding a beneficial aspect of the food retail market.

Tesco are one of a number of established UK retailers, who now have to compete with lower cost discounters who are mostly non-UK-based with extensive international businesses. Aldi, for example, operate around 9,600 stores internationally. Tesco have (at the latest count) 6,814 stores internationally, including 3,535 locations in the UK with 310,000 employees.

Some retailers trading terms have been onerous on suppliers and they may have abused their dominant buying positions. However this is all changing as retailers are investigated and monitored by a recently appointed Grocery Adjudicator, Christine Tacon.

Retailers have beneficial impact on employment in the food supply chain. A proportion of Orchard Valley Foods output ends up on retail shelves and generates jobs in our company.

An important role of the retailer is their impact on continuously improving food quality. All retailers have very high standards. For example, we supply Marks and Spencer who, like all retailers, will not compromise on quality. Which leads me to thank again our team of local people for the outcome of a recent Marks and Spencer food safety audit.

After a two-day rigorous and detailed audit of our food hygiene procedures we were awarded their Gold standard. The only current Marks and Spencer grocery product supplier to hold this prestigious award.