A fruit supplier has teamed up with a gin maker to create a premium spirit using table grapes lost in the packing process.

Borough Green-based supplier Richard Hochfield Ltd loses 166 million surplus grapes each year and decided to turn the waste into something more palatable.

Now it has teamed up with West Sussex distiller Foxhole Spirits to create a premium gin which will be available through Tesco.

Called Hyke, the gin goes on sale exclusively at 300 of the supermarket's stores today (Monday).

It comes with gin sales nationwide at a 50 year high and demand for premium gin at Tesco rocketing by nearly 90 per cent in the last year.

Karen Cleave, technical director at Richard Hochfeld Ltd added: “For packing, the grapes are cut and trimmed to fit the punnets, leaving loose grapes and tiny bunches that can’t be sold as fresh.

"The size of the trade means that these lovely fresh grapes – equivalent to the weight of about 3.5 blue whales – end up as compost, animal feed or in an anaerobic digester.

“Now we’re taking them on a delicious journey which respects the provenance of the grapes and supports our commitment, as one of Tesco’s biggest suppliers, to cut waste.”

Andrew Hargreaves, Tesco spirits buying manager, said: “We are always looking at innovative ways to tackle food waste and work closely with our suppliers to do just that."