A DEVON tourism organisation this week said it is disappointed at the policy of a giant supermarket chain which is affecting holidaymakers staying in West Devon. Devon Farms Accommodation has been getting complaints from members that Tesco is refusing to provide an on-line delivery service to guests staying at self catering cottages with farm addresses. The reason, claim the DFA, is that supermarkets will not deliver to businesses and a working farm is considered as a business address. Kate Price, one of more than 140 Devon members, said: ?It does seem rather ironic that we as farmers bend over backwards to supply supermarkets with top quality produce for their customers, yet when our customers, as paying guests, request a service from Tesco they are simply refused.? Philippa Bignell, chairman of the DFA, said she thought the situation could be turned around to the benefit of both farm guests and Devon?s food producers. ?We have been searching for some time for a company that will deliver a range of goods similar to that offered by supermarket on-line systems but sourced from Devon and the South West. ?With luck this situation will highlight the obvious gap in the market and provide the necessary impetus to get a service off the ground.? Mrs Bignell said its members would readily support an on-line delivery service which helps provide local Devon produce for its accommodation customers. ?We have the best quality produce, which unlike the supermarkets is local and does not come from anywhere in the world and if there was a good on-line service providing Devon produce I would urge our members to use them. Tesco confirmed that their stores at Launceston and Roborough deliver on-line products depending on postcode area.
