A NORTHLEW couple are among the local food producers to benefit from the opening of Waitrose in Okehampton.
Janet and Tim White of Brook Farm produce free range eggs for Freshlay Foods in Holsworthy who have just been contracted to supply the supermarket with their 'Granary' eggs.
The Whites, who keep 10,000 birds, said it was 'very commendable' on Waitrose's part to be supporting local producers.
The supermarket is also stocking locally produced milk, cream and cheese.
Egg packers Freshlay's 'Granary eggs' are produced, as the name implies, by feeding a grain-only diet of wheat, maize, oats and rye. A picture of the farmer is included inside the lid of each pack so the eggs can be traced back to the farm they originated from.
Marketing and commercial director of Freshlay Nigel Lapthorne said this was the first Waitrose store that the company had supplied and the supermarket had agreed to stock Granary eggs in its stores in Sidmouth and Saltash when they open later this year.
'Although Waitrose also have their own egg suppliers almost 500 packs of Granary eggs have been sold in the first week of the store opening in Okehampton which is excellent,' he said. 'We have Granary egg producers all over Devon and Cornwall and we find that the product is selling well especially in London where Westcountry food is very popular.'