Tesco boss Ken Murphy has said that the government should make cost-of-living support “more targeted” for the vulnerable as he warned over food poverty.
Chief executive of the supermarket giant, Murphy says he believes government support has “helped”, as he has seen positive signs of shopping behaviour in Tesco stores since energy bill payments were given to UK households from October.
However, he suggested that there could still be improvements to the financial support currently being offered by the government.
“It looks like the action by the government has helped but I believe it can be more targeted in the form of who it helps, to help the vulnerable,” Murphy said.
“There should be a case for more means testing with support. There is a certain responsibility that should be shared by businesses, government and communities to help those most at need.”
Murphy also said he “cannot predict” if food poverty will worsen, adding that Tesco is steadfast in its commitment to keeping prices affordable for all customers amid the uncertain backdrop.
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The comments came as the retailer launched its first ever ‘reverse supermarket’ with charity partners FareShare and the Trussell Trust, where shoppers can purchase food which is then donated to those who need it.
FareShare expects to redistribute more than 13,000 tonnes of food to people this winter, while The Trussell Trust confirmed that 320,000 people used a food bank for the first time between April to September this year, with demand continuing to rise.
Tesco said this winter will be “increasingly challenging” for many families facing food uncertainty, pointing out that “food banks and frontline charities need our help more than ever before”.
Murphy has previously spoken of the effects of increased pressure on customers’ budgets over the past year, with more turning to value product ranges.
“We have seen many shoppers have been pricing down, which highlights the importance of having a range of pricing,” he said.
“We can’t control the future but I expect the demand for these lines will still be strong over the next 12 or 24 months.”
