Duerr’s goes back in time with Tesco

NORTH WEST food manufacturer F Duerr & Sons has gone back in time to launch a ‘new’ product.

A drive by supermarket giant Tesco to stock more locally-produced goods has prompted the return, after a 35-year absence, of Manchester Marmalade.

Duerr’s originally launched Manchester Marmalade in the 1950s, however the regional variation fell out of distribution as the national supermarkets looked for products with universal appeal.

The £36m turnover family-owned company, which also makes jam, honey and savoury sauces,has signed a deal with Tesco to supply 75 regional stores across Greater Manchester and the North West with their newly updated Manchester Marmalade.

Wythenshawe and Old Trafford-based Duerr’s, which was founded 128 years ago, says 50% of the profits from the sale of each jar will be donated to ‘Forever Manchester’, a project by the Community Foundation of Greater Manchester which aims to raise a £4.4m fund in the next three years.

Director Richard Duerr said: “Regional products fell out of favour as chains of supermarkets grew across the UK. However, this level of consistency has seen the rise and fall of many of the breakfast table names we knew 30 years ago.

“The Duerr’s range of jam, marmalade and sweet spreads are available nationwide, however, this new initiative by Tesco means that we can now give the people of Manchester a product to call their own again.

“We hope that other national retailers will consider stocking Manchester Marmalade and urge Mancunians to purchase a jar of the product to help demonstrate to the retailers that regional products have a place on supermarket shelves.

“Profits from the sale of Manchester Marmalade will be donated to Forever Manchester to support their campaign to create a sustainable resource to help the community of Manchester for ever.”

Tesco will stock the distinctive black and white labelled jars of Manchester Marmalade in stores across the Greater Manchester area from April 25.