DORSET supermarkets are set to stock more local produce because customers want to save on food miles and help local farmers, according to head of Tesco local sourcing Emily Shamma.

She said: "More customers want great local food that is fresh and contributes to the local economy. Customers see local' as a badge of quality."

This year Tesco will sell £400 million of local products - from potatoes and pork to beer and biscuits. It plans to sell £1 billion by 2011.

The company has opened five new local buying offices across England, becoming the first supermarket to develop a regionally based, UK-wide structure to drive local sourcing.

Mrs Shamma said that Tesco has a central distribution centre where the local produce is delivered and then distributed.

Since launching local sourcing just over a year ago, Tesco now stocks over 3,000 local product lines across the UK and has found more than 90 new suppliers.

"Local food is food produced within the relevant county," Mrs Shamma added.

"Some areas of the country have an abundance of locally sourced products and others don't. In Dorset the locally sourced part of the business has only been running for six months, so I do ask consumers to be patient with us."

Marketing manager for Tesco in the south west Jo Wren said: "We have a Dorset local choice milk. Our Dorset produce includes: Blandford's Fiddleford Mushrooms, Purbeck Ice Cream and Blandford based Hall & Woodhouse beers. This year we want to champion Dorset blueberries because the area is well known for them. We're looking for suppliers of all sizes and are keen to hear from local businesses."

However, Tesco is not the first to do this.

Asda has been selling locally sourced milk for five years and has just sold its 50 millionth locally sourced pint.

Since 2002, the retailer has increased its local milk offer to include over 70 local brands which are now available in nearly two thirds of its stores nationwide.