‘Single Shop’ Society for the Future?

11 May 2010

Written by site member Rebecca H. (congratulations on winning the prize of £25.00 for a published blog!)


Why does everyone talk about great food but very few people do anything about it or realise what they are doing is contributing to a ‘single shop’ society for the future. We constantly hear about the millions of pounds profit the big supermarkets are making and yes they provide much needed local jobs but what about the producers, the farmers and the environment?


How many people think, I should buy British and seasonal and maybe consider using my local butcher, greengrocer or farm shop rather than supporting the big four supermarkets. Who actually thinks when a 2-4-1 offer is available, this is hitting the producer hardest, the supermarket isn’t making a loss here; its all just too tempting. The argument most people use is they don’t have time to shop in different places but its about making time, and perhaps for those local shops considering a late night opening so people can buy fresh local meat, fish and vegetables after work at their convenience.


People say they believe in local and sustainable and all the buzz words of the moment but who actually leaves work and acts on what they say rather than just visiting the big supermarkets again because they’re cheap and convenient. Cheap because they force prices down with the primary producers who are also at the mercy of the weather or use cheap unsustainable ingredients such as palm oil, but who checks the ingredients on their food as they walk around the shop with a million other things to think about.


Showing 11 comment(s) on this article
19

Martin B Last week at Tesco they had a yellow 'Special Offer' on a 200g +50g free on Spam for just £1.58. Right next to this 'special offer' were tins of 340g Spam for £1.50 So the special offer cost you 8p more for 90 grams less product. 'Every little helps - yeah, helps Tesco! You really have to have your wits about you in theses giant supermarkets. Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

17
Claire H This is all very well but here in the Highlands shops are very few and tend to be Spar etc which is just a big buying group. I can't even think of a green grocers here. But there is a Morrison and a Tesco within 45 minutes drive and an Asda just been given planning permission. I can't believe the local planning officers, the small shops that are left wont be able to compete and then we will have to shop in Asda. Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

15

Clare S there are some supermarkets that support british products for example the cooperative have british produce, meat, milk etc and you can taste the difference in quality. however in todays society money talks and the fact is the likes of tesco etc import products because they are cheaper. Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

16
Sally M That is so true. I've never been able to understand why that is to be honest that to produce, package, transport and sell a product to the UK can be cheaper than producing and selling within the UK, and don't lets keep going on about low wages abroad etc. I've visited some of these farms and yes, they do sell cheaper than the uk farmers, but their workers arn't paid that much less. Maybe, its more to do with making that bit more profit a bit quicker thats the real problem? SMJ Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

14

Raymond J Unless there is a radical change in current government and local council policies, there is no way to stop the growth of the supermarkets. Towns and cities have seen their small retailers go out of business due to ever-increasing costs. The local butcher, newsagent, etc., cannot generate the turnover required to fund the huge costs of running the business. Council taxes alone will generally be thousands of pounds per year. That needs a lot of sausages to be sold! However, whilst your council is slowly turning the town centre into a mass of fast-food takeaways and large chainstores, they are also helping the supermarkets eliminate the small traders by allowing out-of-town developments with large car parks. This is where the "single shop" is ideally placed. Take a trolley and visit every type of foodstuff in one place, taking what you want as you go. Add a new pair of shoes, a couple of DVD's and a TV. Pay for the lot in one go and deliver to your car which takes a two minute walk. Small traders cannot compete with the convenience factor and the low prices. That is why we are no longer a nation of shopkeepers, but awash with "service" industries. Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

16
Sally M I agree with you Raymond, but what about those councils who are slowly but surely pushing the consumer through the doors of these large supermarkets. You're right, we can go do our shop, have some lunch, buy some clothese and DVDs and even furniture - and guess what - FREE PARKING!!! When I last went to my local town to shop I was shocked by the price of the car park - £3 for the day may seem like a good deal if I didn't just want to go to the butcher and paper shop! Other alternatives were £1.90 for 'up to' 2hrs! That puts quite a bit on your bill before you start. I don't understand it; the council have surely supposed to do whats best for the shop keeper and the general public in that area, but at £3 a shot for parking - I'm probably going to continue to shop at the supermarket! Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

14

Ian R The problem for us now is that the local butcher has gone out of business which means that it is even less convenient to buy from a butchers than it was before. We have been trading choice in return for convenience for so long now that many shoppers have never experienced a multi-site food shopping experience! Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

13
Cheralyn M You have made a very good point which is supported by Aldi. They believe their stores should work with the community and not to put local shops out of business. Wherever you shop in Aldi throughout Europe, you will find the majority of the products are sourced within that country. Not something that the big four aspire to! so, not only do you get good quality at a good price, but it will be as local as possible to the store - check the veg!! Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

12

Miranda S I agree in theory, I would love to buy british produce but even when they say its British it still may not be! The answer then I presume is as you say, farmers market (I dont think we have them localy???) and the butchers. Our local market obtains produce from all over, much the same as the supermarkets I suppose so that would not help much. I dont have alot of time to mess about with the shopping when you can still get it wrong, then you are paying more for nothing. I always feel rushed in our local butchers as I work all week and Saturdays they are busy, you dont get the opportunity to ask the questions so I tend to give up. Maybe the local paper could investigate it for us and advise on where to go to buy local produce I could then work to this. I do realise how lazy this makes me sound but in reality I think time is an issue but if its important we should make a little more effort...... thinking I should pop down the allotments and barter with the old boys down there Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

11
John M Goods point here. Only last week the case was made that "even more of a concern is the reality that retailers (supermarkets in this case) can buy produce at source cheaper from far a field than at home here in the UK". In today's press Tesco's have come under fire for selling imported Asparagus from Peru in an indiginous Asparagus producing region of England. Looks like the British public arn't so fussy after all!! Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

16

Sally M Hi John, fair point, but I don't think its that we're not that fussy, just so damn busy all of the time. I'm making a real effort though this year to 'grow my own' and shop locally. I have to be honest, at first I found it quite a bit more expensive, but now I buy what I need and when I need it. My food bill was hitting the £70 per week mark (there's only two of us one of which is vegetarian) but now I by my veg and eggs from the farmers in my area and my bread from the bakery and to be honest, I do a supermarket shop every month or so out of convenience. I'd like to do more but making my own pasta, growing my own rice and potatoes arn't that cost effective. Sally Please log in (or register) to reply to a comment

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