Morrisons is committing over £1.6 billion to British agriculture and food production in 2026 to support a series of multi-year partnerships with farmers supplying it with fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy and eggs.
Morrisons said it works with its farmers in a partnership approach, with terms of trade between the parties governed by The Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and a firm commitment to fair dealing and transparency. In line with this long term commitment, it typically operates on multi-year contracts, ‘enhancing visibility and certainty for farmers’.
At a time when many farmers are facing rising costs and ongoing uncertainty, the Bradford-based retailer said it ‘continues to champion British farming, actively engaging with industry bodies and the Government on issues affecting the long term viability of the farming industry, including the future of family farms and domestic food production’.
Rami Baitiéh, the retailer’s chief executive officer, said: “Now, more than ever, at a time when farming is under pressure, we stand shoulder to shoulder with British farmers, providing them with long term financial stability and practical support. That is why we are committing to invest £1.6 billion with British farms this year, backing the people who produce our food and giving them the confidence and stability they need to continue producing high quality British products for our customers.”
Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle, said: “For decades, Morrisons has been a steadfast and consistent partner for British agriculture. Through long-term partnerships and significant investment, they are not only helping put quality homegrown food on our tables, but are also helping sustainable food production to grow and prosper. This Government will continue to work closely with industry to support British farming and increase its profitability, productivity and sustainability for years to come.”
Initiatives
Morrisons said it supports its direct investment in British farming with a wide range of initiatives including:
- Morrisons Agriculture Directors Forum – launched in December 2025, this initiative brings together agricultural leaders from Morrisons key suppliers to strengthen collaboration, align on shared priorities and support the delivery of agricultural strategy, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, animal welfare and long term resilience.
- The ‘Morrisons Next Generation Farming Programme’, established in 2019, is a programme of training and development initiatives and prepares young Morrisons farmers for what goes on beyond the farm gate, providing insight into the world of manufacturing and retail. To date, more than 100 farmers have been through the programme.
- In partnership with McDonald’s and the NFU, it launched the first School of Sustainable Food & Farming at Harper Adams University to help address the skills gaps in agriculture and embed new sustainable farming methods across the industry. It has also developed its Sustainable Farm Network, which is made up of 38 farm networks, representing over 150,000 hectares across the country.
- Its ‘For Farmers’ range which includes milk, eggs, cheese and cream, enables customers to give back directly to farmers and has raised over £29 million to date since its launch in 2015.
- The retailer has invested in the Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm Resilience Programme, offering free business skills courses to family farms.
- It offers support such as a 5% discount in-store and online to all Morrisons farmers and its ‘Tractor Tuesdays’ initiative which gives farmers 25% off its café menu on a Tuesday, helping to make the farming industry more visible to customers shopping for the food they produce.