Tesco adds exclusive new roasting potato item
A new and exclusive roasting potato item is rolling out at Tesco grocery stores across the U.K. The new variety, which also has environmental benefits, has been grown and developed over the last six years by one of the U.K.’s largest potato suppliers, Branston, exclusively for Tesco.
The potatoes will be featured as Tesco Finest British Roasting Potatoes. Potato experts at Lincolnshire-based Branston and Tesco are hailing the new variety as the ultimate roasting potato because of its “perfect rich, fluffy texture, crispy outer skin and golden colour.” The new potatoes require less water to grow and take 25% less time to cook, adding to Tesco’s ongoing environmental initiatives.
The potatoes are being launched by Tesco in the run up to Christmas as demand for roasting potatoes at this time rockets by around 500% compared with a normal shopping week.
Officially known as Nemo because of their unusual markings, in reference to the titular character from the film Finding Nemo, the potatoes will be sold as Tesco Finest British Roasting Potatoes.
“Just about everyone who has tasted the new Nemo variety consider it to be the best roasting potato ever – even better than the King Edward or Maris Piper,” said Tesco potato buyer Hannah Moseley. “Not only do they taste wonderfully rich and buttery but they are also light and fluffy on the inside with a beautiful golden crispness on the outside – basically perfect roasties. But an added bonus is that they roast about 10 minutes quicker than European varieties.”
The potatoes have been developed by Branston at their main site in Branston, Lincolnshire and grown at one of their sites in Suffolk. The potatoes will sell for £2 for a 3 kilo pack.
“Nemo is a natural hybrid that has been developed through carefully crossing an exceptionally wonderful tasting fast-cooking Peruvian variety called Inca Bella and a popular, red-skinned salad variety called Franceline which grows well in the UK climate,” said Dr. David Nelson, Branston’s agronomy director. “As this is a new potato we only have a limited amount this year but enough to cover the all-important Christmas period when roasting potatoes are at their most popular.”