Since launching the campaign last weekend, Wyke Farms md Richard Clothier told FoodManufacture.co.uk the firm's Facebook 'likes' had risen from 5,000 to more than 7,000 in just a few days.
“This shows that people feel strongly about retailers flexing their muscles,” he said.
The campaign invites supporters to ask Morrisons’ staff in local stores to retain Wyke Farm products. The retailer has told the cheese maker that it will no longer stock its cheeses from mid-September.
Fantastically well
“Up until about May everything was going fantastically well with Morrisons,” said Clothier. “The retailer told us it wanted to continue working with us after working together for about eight years.”
But in mid-June – as part of its supplier review revealed exclusively by FoodManufacture.co.uk – Morrisons told the firm it wished to work with fewer brands. The supermarket invited Wyke Farms and other suppliers to tender for business. This was followed by a blind tender that “invited” suppliers to invest money up front.
It was after the blind tender that the cheese maker was told Morrisons would delist Wyke Farms and discontinue the 40,000 units a week sold from its stores.
Since the delisting Morrisons’ management team has proved illusive and apparently reluctant to agree to a meeting.
Financial arm wrestling
“I was very disappointed by the way Morrisons treated us,” said Clothier. “We are a family business from Somerset – not the Irish Dairy Board or Dairy Crest. When it comes to financial arm wrestling, we are never going to win.”
Clothier launched the Facebook campaign to express his frustration, to persuade the retailer to reconsider and to highlight the importance of shopper choice.
“I’m realistic: I can’t expect Morrisons to go back on its decision but I would like it to relist us in April.
“Also, I don’t want to knock Morrisons or its staff, who work with us. But I would like them to understand that not all brands are equal. There is a genuine need for brands like Wyke Farms because they extend shoppers’ choice.”
Twitter users have been invited to support the campaign by using the hash tag #keepwykeinmorrisons and to post the message Keep Wyke Farms in! at @MorrisonsOffers.
A Morrisons spokesman said: "We took the decision to remove the Wyke Farm brand following an extensive category review of all of our pre-packed cheese. Feedback from customers was that there was a lot of duplication in our range and we are consequently trying to simplify it.
"The decision was also formed by our desire to have more of an own-brand offering ahead of our category re-launch in September."
Major retailers such as Sainsbury, Asda and Co-op (but not Tesco) will continue to stock Wyke Farms cheese.
Facebook support for Wyke
- “Thank goodness we now have the internet. Who needs stupid companies like Mo… etc. Word by mouth and cheese by mouth is much more effective.” Jacky Flay
- “Love your cheeses. Keep Wyke Farms in Morrisons.” Harriet Rogers
- “Customers like the best cheese and Wyke Farms is the best! Please keep it in Morrisons.” Cindy Grimwood.
8 comments (Comments are now closed)
Put Wyke Farms cheese back in Morrisons
Please put Wyke Farms' excellent cheese back in Morrisons as soon as possible.
Report abuse
Posted by Peter Tonkin
27 October 2012 | 11h31
Morrisons Listen to your customers
Why not local produce for local people?
Wyke Farms cheese should be available to comsumers in the west country at the very least.
This is another example of the knock on effect for the local dairy industry.
Don't be fooled into thinking that all customers care about is the cost. Local, good quality and environmentally friendly and, not forgetting, ethical and responsible trading policy is the key to all this.
Report abuse
Posted by Maria C
28 August 2012 | 13h29
So disappointed in you, Morrisons!
This saddens me about Morrisons.
Wyke Farms is such an excellent family business and did not deserve to be cut out like that.
I formerly held Morrisons in high regard. All their hoopla about being for the family farmer and high-quality now seems to have been all for show.
Report abuse
Posted by Sarah Lewis
21 August 2012 | 18h37
Shameless Greed
The chains never know when to stop. They are just as responsible as the banks and the government in bringing this country's manufacturing base to it's knees.
Grow up Morrisons. Perhaps if we all delisted Morrisons and took our shopping elsewhere, it might start listening?
Look at Tesco, Morrison! No one is too big to take a hit.
Report abuse
Posted by Tim M
18 August 2012 | 00h02
End the Greed
Please, for the love of humanity! Stop the big greedy corporations like Morrisons from flexing their muscles to bully the smaller businesses. If you look at Morrisons with disapproval after reading this news report, avoid shopping at Morrisons!!!! There are plenty of other retailers out there to choose from – some of them are cheaper.
Report abuse
Posted by Peter Crolla
17 August 2012 | 10h15
Greedy Morrisons kicking suppliers again
Morrisons, like at least one other supermarket group, is once again ruthlessly putting profit way before customer care and satisfaction. I need the excellent and unique Wyke Farms Superlight cheese for its very low saturated fat properties. If Morrisons stop stocking it they will lose my custom and that of my family and on principle we will never shop with them again. Perhaps that is the only way they will understand if many more do the same. Facebook is great but it does not hit them where it hurts. Fight on Wyke Farms, you deserve better than mealy mouthed meany Morrisons!
Report abuse
Posted by Ian Swindells
16 August 2012 | 09h11
Wyke loses out with Morrisons
Plain stupid and nothing about consumer choice, most likely about pure greed on Morrisons' part. Shame on them.
Report abuse
Posted by RodgerS
15 August 2012 | 23h33
Greedy Morrisons
Morrisons needs to remember that it was the public that put it where it is today and it is the public who can dump it just as fast.
Keep the small supplier and the the choice of products. That is why we, the customer, shops with you.
Report abuse
Posted by Bert Haydon
15 August 2012 | 19h55
Read all comments (8)