Lincolnshire in Focus

Quality Lincolnshire is a Co-Operative of 90 local farmers supplying high quality meats to local butchers and all Lincolnshire Co-Operative Foodstores. They are delighted to win, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Co-Op, a Big Tick Award in the Northern Foods "Business in the Community Awards for Excellence 2008". Following this win they went on to compete at the Royal Albert Hall against 5 other finalists, including Sainsbury's. Together, with the Lincolnshire Co-Op, they have been honoured to win the National Award.

Chairman of Lincolnshire Quality, Michael Read , who farms Lincoln Red cattle at Hemingby.

"This is a real honour - especially for this scheme, based in Lincolnshire , to beat competition from major national retailers," he said. "It is a wonderful reward for 11 years of hard work by our members."

Lincolnshire Co-operative's Chief Executive Officer Ursula Lidbetter said:

"The Lincolnshire Quality scheme is exactly the type of project which Lincolnshire Co-operative is about - ethical trading, supporting the local community and economy and above all, the highest quality product for our members and customers.

Paula Widdowson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Northern Foods said,

" Lincolnshire Quality demonstrates the real value and impact which can be delivered to both suppliers and customers through a sustained approach to operating in a responsible marketplace. The Scheme has farming at its heart - with a focus on keeping livestock in the fields and maintaining the local landscape for tourism".