Early payments for Morrisons suppliers to help offset coronavirus impact

Farmers, local foodmakers and other small businesses will receive early payments from the supermarket to help mitigate the potential impact of coronavirus.

Hannah Binns
News Reporter
clock • 1 min read
Early payments for Morrisons suppliers to help offset coronavirus impact

Farmers, local foodmakers and other small businesses will receive early payments from the supermarket to help mitigate the potential impact of coronavirus.

The faster payments will support the company's 1,750 farmer suppliers in dealing with cash flow problems caused by the coronavirus, such as manufacturing disruptions and staff shortages as a result of sickness.

Morrisons have also reclassified smaller 'goods for resale' suppliers as those with a Morrisons turnover of £1 million or less per annum, meaning an extra 1,000 small food businesses will qualify for the new immediate payment.

Chief executive of Morrisons, David Potts, said: "We are Britain's biggest single foodmaker and we want to be there for the smaller foodmakers, farmers and businesses that supply Morrisons.

"We're a British family business and we will be doing our best to support them through this challenging period."

Environment Secretary, George Eustice, welcomed the measures to support farmers and food producers in their ‘vital work of feeding the nation.'

He said: "We already have a highly-resilient food supply chain in this country and I am continuing to work closely with Morrisons and other retailers on their response to coronavirus.

"The Government has pledged £30 billion in this year's Budget for those affected and we have been clear that we will do whatever it takes to support people and businesses."

Morrisons will write to suppliers to inform them of the changes and plan to start processing payments this week.

Payments are expected to last until the end of May before the situation is reviewed.

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit Sales

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Arable

 Top tips for autumn sugar beet management

Top tips for autumn sugar beet management

With the harvesting campaign on the horizon, BBRO's summer BeetField meetings provided an opportunity to catch up with advice on keeping sugar beet crops healthy this autumn

Teresa Rush
clock 13 September 2025 • 6 min read
Growers urged to maintain attention to detail in weed control

Growers urged to maintain attention to detail in weed control

How utilising all the tools in the box while maintaining a sharp eye for detail can be the key to autumn weed control

Farmers Guardian
clock 10 September 2025 • 2 min read
How to tame weeds in low disturbance systems

How to tame weeds in low disturbance systems

Low disturbance systems create challenges for weed control that require attention to detail across the rotation

Farmers Guardian
clock 09 September 2025 • 6 min read