FOOD and drink suppliers proved pitch perfect as they vied for a place on Morrisons’ shelves as part of the supermarket’s focus on local producers.

The Bradford-based supermarket giant invited the best local suppliers to showcase their products at an event at Victoria Hall, Keighley.

The successful firms, which have yet to be confirmed, have now been invited to a final round at Morrisons’ head office in Gain Lane, and if they are then successful, will then have the chance to be listed in its stores.

A total of 75 foodmakers applied to take part with local foodmakers who attended yesterday’s event included Parrs Foods, a confectionary manufacturer based near Scarborough who make toffee, chocolates and honeycomb; Sloe Motion, an artisan family gin company still using 18th Century methods; and Leeds-based Bottled Baking Co, who hand craft baking mixes in West Yorkshire.

Richard Jones, Morrisons food quality expert and development chef, said: “Morrisons is a Yorkshire business.

“We employ 20,000 people in Yorkshire and, after seeing the quality of food in Keighley, we are really keen to put even more Yorkshire food on our customers’ plates.”

Morrisons is also be working with members of the Women’s Institute in their communities across the UK, using their local knowledge to source and select the best suppliers in their area. The scheme looks to offer Morrisons customers more food and drink that meets local tastes and products which were grown or made within the county.

They will join the likes of Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale, a company based in Cook Lane, Keighley, and founded in 1858.

Bradford-made parkin and Yorkshire ham, which are sold in its delis, are also part of its current list of products.

The firms chosen from this latest recruitment drive will look to follow in the footsteps of Keighley-based Clearly Scrumptious, which agreed an exclusive distribution deal with Morrisons to stock Scrummies, a new free-from whole fruit snack developed specifically for children from 12 months old.

From this month, the Blueberry, Raspberry and Strawberry fruit snacks will be available in more than 100 Morrisons stores across the UK.

James Feddo, Clearly Scrumptious director, said: “The input from the buying team at Morrisons was invaluable.

“To be recognised by a major multiple like Morrisons and to have its support and guidance is testament to the quality and innovation of our new product and we can’t wait to engage with customers to see how we can further expand our product offering.”