Jump to content

Recommended Posts

A quick browse of Southwark Planning shows that the co-op is now going to be upping it's game in response to the M&S opening further down the road. A complete re-brand shop fascia along with perhaps some internal layout changes? Looks like they won't be going anywhere just yet - game on it seems.


http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk/documents/?GetDocument=%7b%7b%7b!8Ag4MowQiQO1DHxLsuNrew%3d%3d!%7d%7d%7d


Louisa.

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/119945-co-op-ll-upping-its-game/
Share on other sites

Seabag - have you been able to ascertain any difference in these two mediocre stores?

Budgens will not be there forever, as the

complexion of Sydenham High Street changes, and is, with already an excellent vegan restaurant, Italian, Blue Mountain, wonderful book shop with beautiful cards, at least one 'We sell everything' chandlers, and large Sainsbury's at the other end. And a Railway Station.


The High Street is changing, and retail dinosaurs have no place in a faster paced, demanding, gentrified HS which needs to keep pace with customer expectation and aspiration, especially in these times of closing down town centres, pay to park, traffic wardens, nowhere to park, online shopping and delivery points. It is the evolution of shopping and now unstoppable.

As the demographic shifts and alters and thirty somethings with babies and young families move into the area, this is a fact of life and I would suggest, that for those mourning a past, passed or passing way of life, that this one could be better, and embrace it, as resistance is futile.

You missed Chef's Delight there in the mix EA


And Subway


I love Sydenham, and no there's not much difference between Budgens/Co-Op. But really I hardly shop at either as Hello Fresh turns up on Sunday nite, 3 meals all there and ready to cook. It's eliminated the 'choice' out of the busy week. Who'd have thought that Sweede chunky chips baked in the oven were so delicious??

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We lost our Co-Op in Sydenham, replaced by Budgens

> (who came up with that as a brand name?)

>

> Careful what you wish for people


The first Budgens store was opened in 1872, by John Budgen.


Bit of a clue there.. I'll let you work out the rest.. ;-)


Foxy

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You missed Chef's Delight there in the mix EA

>

> And Subway

>

> I love Sydenham, and no there's not much

> difference between Budgens/Co-Op. But really I

> hardly shop at either as Hello Fresh turns up on

> Sunday nite, 3 meals all there and ready to cook.

> It's eliminated the 'choice' out of the busy week.

> Who'd have thought that Sweede chunky chips baked

> in the oven were so delicious??


Chef's Delight??

that sounds like your kitchen after a delivery of swede chunky chips,

(in the war apparently swede was bashed up and things done to it to turn it into 'ice cream')

In the good old days.

I loathe that CoOp store for all the reasons already listed by others. It's a shame they have ownership of that flagship store, located in the best part of our high street - everything that modern business is they aren't. If there is to be a new frontage as per the link shown then I think the M&S effect will have served a purpose if it makes others up their game.

Too little, too late.


I may not want an M+S personally, but I think they're going to kick the Co-op's backside, and frankly that's a good thing.


Budgens, while it's been mentioned, are usually a franchise as I understand it. They can be good or bad. The one in Crofton Park is fantastic, well stocked and professionally run (IMO). Others, not so great.

The Co-op is as unpredictable as Somerfield was before it but I've always found fresh veg (even if it is often hiding under the layers of bendy celery, yellowing broccoli and soft onions), some cheap goods and friendly - but thank God not obsequious - staff (the odd sullen youth excepted) - all in all exactly like the co-ops I remember from my youth.


This one however does seem bedeviled by a managerial incompetence that regularly fails to communicate its produce-ordering whims and spontaneous layout changes to the bewildered staff which leaves them unable to answer "Have you not got any 'x' this week or have you just moved it again?".


Sometimes wonder if the store is at the end of a 'run' and they get whatever's left on the truck.

Too much produce on sale has already reached it's 'use by' date .. so reduced price.

Milk with just 1 day use by.. one would expect 7 days use by. I put milk in my fridge and expect a few days use.


Some produce on or past Best Before date so ok to eat ? but taste impared..


Sad looking fruit and vegetables... I'm not talking about misshapen.. but shrivelled.. discoloured..


Empty or broken down fridges.. some of the sliding doors have been recently repaired.


Most of the till staff are friendly if you talk to them ...but I suspect they are P'd off with things themselves.

They are just having to get on with dreadful management or lack of it..


It's probably why everyone seems to have lost interest..


DulwichFox

I'm excited by M&S! Well maybe not excited.......there's a limit to how excited I can be about a supermarket.....but pleased. I won't do a weekly shop there, but I didn't do that at Co-Op either.


Pleased another rubbish small Tesco or Sainsburys isn't opening- there are enough of those.


I will be pleased to pop into M&S here and there when I want some treats and better quality stuff.


But this thread is about Co-Op having a facelift so, what's the saying, you can't polish a turd?!

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seabag - have you been able to ascertain any

> difference in these two mediocre stores?

> Budgens will not be there forever, as the

> complexion of Sydenham High Street changes


Not all Budgens are like the ones in the city, in the Cotswolds I've been to quite a smart one which included a branch of Cook. If one like that replaced the Co-op it would be more competition for M&S than the current co-op.

I don't think all the staff at CoOp are rude, in fact most are polite but wear an air of long-suffering stoicism. I agree that it's not well run, on the whole, but it is adequately run most of the time. Not a ringing endorsement, I grant you, but not enough for me not to use it. If something is wrong - like a lack of people on the checkouts or a spillage - I ask a staff member to deal with it and it's always seen to. I like the ethos and values of the CoOp in all its guises so will continue to shop there.

As for M and S - despite its '00s ads claiming its exceptionalism - it's just a supermarket, ultimately.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Does anyone know when the next SNT meeting is? I am fed up with my son being mugged on East Dulwich Grove! 
    • The issue must be everywhere at the moment. I was visiting a friend last week in Bermondsey, think we were walking  down Linton Rd & we dodged 7 dog poos. It was disgusting. 
    • Thanks for your message — I actually took the time to look into what CityHive does before posting my original comment, and I’d encourage anyone with questions to do the same. Yes, the Companies House filings are overdue — but from what I’ve gathered, this seems likely to be an accountant or admin issue, not some sign of ill intent. A lot of small, community-based organisations face challenges keeping up with formalities, especially when they’re focused on immediate needs like food distribution. Let’s not forget CityHive is a not-for-profit, volunteer-powered CIC — not a corporate machine. As for the directors, people stepping down or being replaced is often about capacity or commitment — which is completely normal in the voluntary and community sector. New directors are sometimes appointed when others can no longer give the time. It doesn’t automatically mean bad governance — it just means people’s circumstances change. CityHive’s actual work speaks volumes. They buy most of the food they distribute — fresh produce, essential groceries, and shelf-stable items — and then deliver it to food banks, soup kitchens, and community projects across London. The food doesn’t stay with CityHive — it goes out to local food hubs, and from there, directly to people who need it most. And while yes, there may be a few paid staff handling logistics or admin, there’s a huge volunteer effort behind the scenes that often goes unseen. Regular people giving their time to drive vans, sort donations, load pallets, pack food parcels — that’s what keeps things running. And when people don’t volunteer? Those same tasks still need to be done — which means they have to be paid for. Otherwise, the whole thing grinds to a halt. As the need grows, organisations like CityHive will inevitably need more support — both in people and funding. But the bigger issue here isn’t one small CIC trying to make ends meet. The real issue is the society we live in — and a government that isn’t playing its part in eradicating poverty. If it were, organisations like CityHive, The Felix Project, City Harvest, FareShare, and the Trussell Trust wouldn’t need to exist, let alone be thriving. They thrive because the need is growing. That’s not a reflection on them — it’s a reflection on a broken system that allows people to go hungry in one of the richest cities in the world. If you're in doubt about what they’re doing, go check their Instagram: @cityhivemedia. You’ll see the real organisations and people receiving food, sharing thanks, and showing how far the impact reaches. Even Southwark Foodbank has received food from CityHive — that alone should speak volumes. So again — how does any of this harm you personally? Why spend time trying to discredit a group trying to support those who are falling through the cracks? We need more people lifting others up — not adding weight to those already carrying the load.
    • Well, this is very disappointing. Malabar Feast  has changed its menu again. The delicious fish curry with sea bass no longer exists. There is now a fish dish with raw mango, which doesn't appeal. I had dal and spinach instead, which was bland (which I suppose I could/should have predicted). One of my visitors had a "vegetable Biriani" which contained hardly any vegetables. Along with it came two extremely tiny pieces of poppadom in a large paper bag.   This was embarrassing, as I had been singing Malabar's praises and recommending we ordered from there. The other mains and the parathas were OK, but I doubt we will be ordering from there again. My granddaughters wisely opted for Yard Sale pizzas, which were fine. Has anybody else had a similar recent poor (or indeed good!)  experience at Malabar Feast?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...