UK-based Co-op Midcounties has signed an agreement with Aldens to supply lamb, pork and chicken to all its Midcounties stores in the Cotswolds area.

Established in 1793, Aldens has been supplying its products to universities, restaurants, hotels and pubs.

However, Aldens saw an 85% reduction in orders overnight following the recent announcement by the government to close down all leisure and hospitality business establishments to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

Aldens managing director Matthew Alden said: “We are delighted to be working with Co-op Midcounties. Together, we will work very hard in bringing a great selecion of produce to their customers in these challenging times.”

The new deal is expected to help Oxford-based Aldens to ensure its business continuity amid the outbreak.

Earlier this year, Aldens secured a four-year supply contract with the Houses of Parliament.

Co-op Midcounties chief executive Phil Ponsonby said: “We’re delighted to have partnered with Aldens to supply the finest quality produce to our stores across the Cotswolds. The deal will help to supplement our existing supplies and ensure that we are able to continue to meet the significantly increased demand we’re seeing from customers across the region.

“We’re particularly pleased to be able to support a local business with such an outstanding heritage. Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we’ve increased the number of local suppliers we work with and are now partnered with over 200 local businesses.

“This is partly to enable us to offer additional types of product and ensure the availability of some key lines to complement our normal ranges, but is also about supporting the communities in which we operate by doing what we can to support local businesses during these unprecedented times.”

Additionally, Co-op Midcounties signed a new contract with a family butcher that has been facing a collapse in the wake of the pandemic.