Blog: Could the industry adopt Tesco law?

The horse meat scandal is nearing the finish line, but the repercussions look set to change the food and drink sector for the long term.

Tesco today concluded its internal investigation and has ditched supplier Silvercrest. The grocer found that the supplier used meat in its products that did not come from the list of approved suppliers Tesco had given it.

Tesco - while not the only grocer involved in the scandal - has been hit hard, just when it was starting to build up trust again with its customers. So, quite rightly, it will also introduce a new standard to its supply chain - DNA testing.

The move will be a “significant investment” the grocer said, but will put customers’ minds at ease.

Yet while Tesco will initially open its purse for the DNA testing, it could well be rolled out wider to the rest of the industry. Customers are going to want all grocers to carry out all possible tests, and it will be frowned upon if others don’t follow suit.

So while Tesco will be shouldering the costs initially, no doubt the whole of the food and drink sector - suppliers included - will end up paying for the new tests eventually.

The good news for Tesco though is that while its reputation has taken a knock, it will be remembered for swiftly responding to the crisis and for being the pioneer of new food standards.

The scandal may end up giving the grocer a leg up in the end. And with its encouraging performance in the Kantar figures this week, the grocer seems to be connecting with customers again.