A SUPERMARKET has stocked up on the region's delicacy ahead of Radio 1's Big Weekend.

ASDA stores in Middlesbrough have boosted stock levels of the Teesside parmo ready for this weekend where they expect an influx of musicians and festival-goers to descend on the town.

Parmos have become a tourist attraction and right of passage for those who visit Teesside.

Already popular with locals, the dish, which hails from Middlesbrough and is similar to a schnitzel, consists of chicken in breadcrumbs topped with a white bechamel and Parmesan sauce and finished with cheese.

Staff at ASDA have also set aside a parmo for some of the Big Weekend festival big names, such as Miley Cyrus, Jess Glynn, Billie Eilish and Radio 1 host Greg James.

The store is stocking extras of Jeff the Chef Parmos, a ready meal created by Middlesbrough-born businessman Geoff Johns.

The Northern Echo:

Steven White, general store manager at Asda Middlesbrough, said: “When it was announced that this year’s Big Weekend would be in Middlesbrough we were thrilled that we’d have so many visitors to our little town, famous and otherwise.

“From a cultural cuisine point of view, there really is nothing that says Middlesbrough more than the parmo, so we thought we’d encourage visitors to the area to try it out, at least to be able to say they’ve tried it.

"It would be great if Miley Cyrus took us up on our V.I.Parmo offer, it’s not like she can get one in America after all.”

Geoff Johns, owner of Jeff the Chef, said: “I’m proud of my Middlesbrough heritage and it’s one of the reasons why I launched Jeff the Chef, so more people could experience the delicacy that is the ‘parmo’.

“The popularity of our ready-made ‘parmo’s’ has been huge, so much so we have also launched a ‘hot-shot parmo’ too.

"We’d love it if some of the acts performing at the festival headed to Asda to pick one up, we’re sure they won’t be disappointed.”

Radio 1's Big Weekend will be held in Middlesbrough's Stewart Park on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.

More than 64,000 people are expected to be entertained by a range of big names from Little Mix to Mumford and Sons, the 1975 to Miley Cyrus.

Stewart Park will be closed to non-ticket holders from 6pm on Friday until 7.30am on Monday, May 27.

  • More information about the festival and planning ahead can be found at bbc.co.uk