Source: The Nation [1], Kenya 

Marks & Spencer (M&S), the UK's leading retailer, says that the amount of produce it sources from Kenya grew by over 10 per cent in 2006/7, driven in part by record sales of Kenyan flowers in M&S stores.

It also says recent efforts to monitor food and flower imports will not reduce the volumes of its imports from Kenya.

The news comes on the heels of a story in Sunday Nation two weeks ago, in which Virgin Group chairman, Sir Richard Branson said he would talk to UK retailers to review their stand over Kenya's horticultural products.

Marks & Spencer buys peas, beans, tenderstem broccoli, baby salad leaves, tea, coffee and roses. In a press statement on Friday, Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer said: "Marks & Spencer has been trading with Kenya for over 30 years. I'm delighted we have seen an increase in the amount of Kenyan products we sell to our UK customers, driven partly by growing demand for good quality, healthy products among our M&S customers and the expansion of our chain of Simply Food stores." 

He added that they were also committed to ensuring that the very highest social and environmental standards are met in the Kenyan supply chain.

"We are aware there have been recent discussions in Kenya about the issue of food miles. As part of our wider commitment to make M&S a carbon neutral business, we are looking at ways of reducing our use of air freight. However, I want to emphasise that we aim to do this by using alternative modes of transport, like shipping, and not by reducing our trade with developing countries."