Morrisons moves to support small suppliers during coronavirus pandemic

Morrisons is to move to immediate payments for its smaller suppliers to help them during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

Morrisons is also temporarily re-classifying a smaller supplier from those with £100,000 of business-a-year with the company to those with £1 million of business. This will mean that an extra 1,000 small food businesses will qualify for these new payment terms.

The move aims to help businesses that provide up to £1m of turnover with Morrisons, including suppliers of local food and farmers that deal direct with Morrisons, such as those providing eggs and livestock. 

“We are Britain’s biggest single foodmaker and we want to be there for the smaller foodmakers, farmers and businesses that supply Morrisons. We’re a British family business and we will be doing our best to support them through this challenging period,” said David Potts, Chief Executive of Morrisons.

Environment Secretary, George Eustice, commented: “These measures will support our farmers and food producers in their vital work of feeding the nation.

“We already have a highly-resilient food supply chain in this country and I am continuing to work closely with Morrisons and other retailers on their response to coronavirus. The government has pledged £30 billion in this year’s Budget for those affected and we have been clear that we will do whatever it takes to support people and businesses.”

Morrisons has around 3,000 small suppliers including 1,750 farmers that will benefit.