Manx meat has been introduced to Douglas Tesco shelves.

The major partnership, which will see a variety of locally-sourced products added to the Tesco range, is regarded as a ’game changer’ for the island’s red meat industry by Isle of Man Meats chairman Tim Baker MHK.

Products now available in the store include: whole and half shoulders of Manx lamb; whole and half legs of Manx lamb; Manx beef roasting joints; and Manx beef carvery joints. Isle of Man said plans are in progress for more Manx meat products to be introduced to the Tesco range in future.

The launch was celebrated at the store with a chef cooking up Manx lamb and beef for shoppers.

Mr Baker called the Tesco deal a ’huge vote of confidence in the business’.

He said: ’This is a very significant achievement for Isle of Man Meats and has been achieved after many months of hard work by our team to meet the high standards demanded by Tesco and their customers. As one of the biggest food retailers on the island, the Tesco partnership is also a massive step forward for the island’s farming community.

’It’s part of our strategy to create even more opportunities for customers here on the island to buy our products from wherever they choose to shop, whether that’s at a supermarket, convenience store, or one of the many local butchers shops that are among our expanding network of valued retail partners.’

The deal, he said, will help the island promote benefits of buying local produce and help seek growth in UK markets.

Tesco stopped selling Manx Meat products in February 2012 after concerns were raised about auditing standards and the physical state of the abattoir building in Tromode.

In 2013, Isle of Man Meats gained approval in principle to resume supply after ’resolving outstanding technical issues’.

It was hoped by the then Agriculture Minister, Phil Gawne, that Manx meat would be back on Tesco shelves early that year.

But this did not happen.

In the last 18 months Isle of Man Meats recruited ’highly experienced and skilled staff, improved its technical capabilities, and achieved widely recognised industry accreditations’, which it says played a key part in achieving the partnership.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK said: ’This collaboration between the farming community, Isle of Man Meats and Tesco, a global retailer with a wide consumer reach, is a major achievement which builds our island’s food security and sustainability.’

He said the food retail industry in the island is worth more than £160million per year, with supermarkets accounting for over 80% of this.

Neil Connell, Tesco Douglas store manager, said: ’We are delighted to be stocking Manx-reared products, and we are excited to be working closely with Isle of Man Meats for what we hope will be the start of a fulfilling partnership.

’This is an important affiliation for Tesco to support the local farming community.’

Tesco shoppers looking for Isle of Man Meats products will see ’Make Sure It’s Manx’ branding in the meat aisle.