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Old 11-08-2008, 16:14
nibsco
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I live in a remote Scottish location and my local (national name) supermarket (50m round trip) has seemed to have a problem offering good, fresh fruit and veg. I haven't bought from a Sainsbury or Tesco "down south" for many years but I haven't heard any similar complaints.

So I wonder whether what I am experiencing is the result of cynical channelling of sub-standard stuff to a captive market (no real competition), inappropriate use of chilled distribution, or simply poor buying bad management? Does anyone have any insights here?

Some examples:

Apples - tough skin, watery flesh, poor flavour
Avocadoes - either too hard or turning black
Oranges - slightly acidic
Grapes - clearly not fresh
Potatoes - musty smell, unrewarding taste
Carrots/broccoli etc - go off prematurely

and so on.

The stuff I've thrown away is unbelievable.
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Old 11-08-2008, 16:52
catering-guy
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I would say poor buying, maybe management feel people will make do with whatever they offer.
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Old 11-08-2008, 17:22
nibsco
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Could well be. It's a small community and, I think, most people are reluctant to complain. To my shame, I include myself in this!

This company obviously competes alongside the majors in the High Streets of Scottish towns and cities - so I suspect that this is not distribution-wide practice (otherwise they'd go out of business).

To be fair to them things do improve slightly in the tourist season, but still the impression lingers.
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Old 11-08-2008, 17:29
Splinter-Z
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I live in a remote Scottish location and my local (national name) supermarket (50m round trip) has seemed to have a problem offering good, fresh fruit and veg. I haven't bought from a Sainsbury or Tesco "down south" for many years but I haven't heard any similar complaints.

So I wonder whether what I am experiencing is the result of cynical channelling of sub-standard stuff to a captive market (no real competition), inappropriate use of chilled distribution, or simply poor buying bad management? Does anyone have any insights here?

Some examples:

Apples - tough skin, watery flesh, poor flavour
Avocadoes - either too hard or turning black
Oranges - slightly acidic
Grapes - clearly not fresh
Potatoes - musty smell, unrewarding taste
Carrots/broccoli etc - go off prematurely


and so on.

The stuff I've thrown away is unbelievable.
This seems to be a common problem in all supermarkets I've been to recently. Think it's down to the crap, wet weather.
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Old 11-08-2008, 19:01
whoever,hey
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stop buying them from supermarkets then and buy them locally.
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Old 11-08-2008, 21:17
nibsco
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stop buying them from supermarkets then and buy them locally.
Love to, but this is a Scottish island where people only grow sheep

There's an occasional limited farmers' style market (had some v nice mutton sausages the other week) but not enough for daily needs - and at a 50m round trip you simply have to do "the big shop".

(Before you ask poor health precludes growing my own)
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Old 11-08-2008, 21:39
fat controller
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We have recently changed our shopping habits, and now avoid Tesco almost completely, simply because we feel that the quality of the produce has dropped significantly.

Sainsburys is generally better, although for some things still not as good as we would like, and when we can afford it (not often nowadays) we like to go to Marks as we find their stuff to be really good - in fact, I often wonder if the 'end' cost is really that much more expensive, as I have noticed that the wastage is much less with Marks stuff compared to Tesco & Sainsburys.
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Old 12-08-2008, 07:54
nibsco
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We have recently changed our shopping habits, and now avoid Tesco almost completely, simply because we feel that the quality of the produce has dropped significantly.

Sainsburys is generally better, although for some things still not as good as we would like, and when we can afford it (not often nowadays) we like to go to Marks as we find their stuff to be really good - in fact, I often wonder if the 'end' cost is really that much more expensive, as I have noticed that the wastage is much less with Marks stuff compared to Tesco & Sainsburys.
I'd certainly be happy to pay more - if it meant I threw away less.
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Old 12-08-2008, 10:18
fat controller
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I'd certainly be happy to pay more - if it meant I threw away less.
Is there a Marks anywhere near (or not too much further than you are already travelling)?
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