Mr. Tony Keohane:

I mentioned that we have a supplier viewpoint, where we survey our suppliers every year in a confidential process. Both we and they have confidence in that process, and the suppliers take part in it. The overwhelming response we get back is good. Issues arise which we deal with and pay attention to, mainly concerning matters of improving communication and processes, and we work hard on that.

To get on Tesco's shelves, a supplier must have a product that customers want to buy. We are open for business and we go around the country looking for new local Irish suppliers in particular. If a supplier e-mails me personally, I will ensure he or she is interviewed and if the product is one that customers wish to buy, we would be happy to stock it. We must be careful because as if everybody comes with the same product, we would have a problem. The product would have to be unique to the area or have provenance; it should add to the shelf, in other words.