Tesco to source more meat in Britain

BIRMINGHAM, England (REUTERS) - Tesco, the world's third-largest retailer, said it would buy more meat from its home market in Britain and shorten supply chains after the discovery of horsemeat in beef products shook consumer confidence in supermarket sourcing.

Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, was one of the first grocers to be hit by the horsemeat scandal, which has prompted European governments to demand tougher rules on the sourcing and labelling of meat products.

"Where it's reasonable to do so, we will source from British producers," Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke told farmers at the National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham, central England on Wednesday.

Mr Clarke said Tesco would seek more partnerships with British farmers and that from July all fresh chicken sold at Tesco's stores in the United Kingdom would come from British farms.