Morrisons has written to farmers to insist that its prospective new owners will protect the grocer’s character and relationship with suppliers.

In a letter to the some 3,000 farmers who supply the grocer, Morrisons chief executive David Potts writes that American private equity firm Fortress would be a “suitable and responsible owner”, and that its pledges about the future of the company “carry genuine weight”.

“Throughout our discussions with Fortress, we considered very carefully whether Fortress would be a suitable and appropriate owner of Morrisons and whether their plans for the business would protect and develop the fundamental character of Morrisons for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Potts wrote, in the letter first seen by The Sunday Telegraph.

“And that of course includes the farmers we work with and British agriculture more widely.”

Unlike other grocers, Morrisons deals directly with the farmers who supply its produce and as a result is known as ‘British farming’s biggest direct customer’. 

Potts concluded in the letter that Morrisons was “proud to have championed British farmers” for generations, and assured them that this “will not change under new ownership”.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) said last week that farmers would be “keeping a close watch over any potential takeover of Morrisons”.

Potts and Morrisons chair Andy Higginson spent much of last week trying to sell the deal to shareholders and stakeholders alike last week, after the surprise news the grocer’s board had accepted a £6.3bn bid last weekend. 

This followed earlier interest in the grocer from private equity house CD&R. Another private equity group, Apollo, has also indicated it is casting its slide rule over Morrisons.

Fortress has said it would be a good, long-term custodian of Morrisons. It signalled there would be no “material” sale and leaseback of Morrisons’ stores, supported a landmark £10 an hour pay award and is committed to continuing to work in partnership with suppliers such as farmers.

Alongside large shareholders including Silchester, Majedie and Legal & General, Potts is expected to meet with business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng this week to brief him on the potential takeover.

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