Sainsburys, Dog Kennel Hill

[Twoddle]

I've become wary of buying oranges now especially ones sold in packets and bags. Apparently they're treated and sprayed and/or were kept frozen to look newer and riper than they really are.

They can look ripe, plump and colourful when you buy them but in a matter of days you pick one out and it's gone completely moldy which as anyone knows has probably infected the others and you have to chuck em out.

[Lynne]

The same happens to the lemons. Overnight they become covered in mould

[Angelina]

  On 14/11/2023 at 01:18, Twoddle said:

I've become wary of buying oranges now especially ones sold in packets and bags. Apparently they're treated and sprayed and/or were kept frozen to look newer and riper than they really are.

They can look ripe, plump and colourful when you buy them but in a matter of days you pick one out and it's gone completely moldy which as anyone knows has probably infected the others and you have to chuck em out.

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why would you buy fruit in plastic anyway?

If everyone were to make good choices when shopping, the supermarkets would have to respond.

ie if no one buys individually wrapped cucumbers, the shops will stop stocking them.

[NewWave]

Problem is that for those on a budget fruit and veg sold pre-packed is somewhat cheaper than those sold loose.

fruit and veg shops are now few and far between and those that do exist often sell at a premium to the supermarket pre-packaged option.

Good food choices are often a luxury for those on a low income.

[h3+]

The price per kg is displayed for both packaged and loose good; i've yet to see packaged being cheaper

There are many many cheap fruit and veg stalls on Rye lane. Support a small business instead of a big supermaket 🙂 

[Spartacus]

  On 14/11/2023 at 13:01, Angelina said:

 

ie if no one buys individually wrapped cucumbers, the shops will stop stocking them.

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Cucumbers, unwrapped, tend to go soft quickly. It is a problem that some suppliers are looking at wirh alternatives to plastic wrapping and they are the only item I will buy wrapped. 

But I agree pre wrapped fruit and veg is a big issue both environmentally and can often hide damaged goods that turn the whole packet to mush 

[SpringTime]

  On 14/11/2023 at 16:28, NewWave said:

Problem is that for those on a budget fruit and veg sold pre-packed is somewhat cheaper than those sold loose.

fruit and veg shops are now few and far between and those that do exist often sell at a premium to the supermarket pre-packaged option.

Good food choices are often a luxury for those on a low income.

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Really? I don't think this is right. Whilst I try to avoid supermarkets at all costs maybe I'm no expert on pricing, but shopping around elsewhere these days tells me that better and usually less dear produce is to be found anywhere but supermarkets. There are local stalls on different days in a variety of accessible locations selling high quality stock whether loose fruit and veg - especially seasonal - condiments, dried goods, organic everything, and good butchers with outdoor slow-reared organic meat (ie. proper meat) all at good prices. The wine on LSL is also far better than Sainsburys' slop. Truly excellent bread to be loved as well. With a little dedication you can shop better products with better prices by market and high street shopping (at least you can in most of London). Also, you get to actually talk to real human people. And you can't get a deal with a supermarket robot that's taken the last checkout lady's job. Supermarkets are bloody awful: carparks, bad food and soulless. Full of machines and zombies. 

[jazzer]

Ok, some good points raised, can you share some of these gems you describe with us so we can go and try and do our own comparisons.

 

[NewWave]

  On 14/11/2023 at 21:01, SpringTime said:

Really? I don't think this is right. Whilst I try to avoid supermarkets at all costs maybe I'm no expert on pricing, but shopping around elsewhere these days tells me that better and usually less dear produce is to be found anywhere but supermarkets. There are local stalls on different days in a variety of accessible locations selling high quality stock whether loose fruit and veg - especially seasonal - condiments, dried goods, organic everything, and good butchers with outdoor slow-reared organic meat (ie. proper meat) all at good prices. The wine on LSL is also far better than Sainsburys' slop. Truly excellent bread to be loved as well. With a little dedication you can shop better products with better prices by market and high street shopping (at least you can in most of London). Also, you get to actually talk to real human people. And you can't get a deal with a supermarket robot that's taken the last checkout lady's job. Supermarkets are bloody awful: carparks, bad food and soulless. Full of machines and zombies. 

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I too am not a fan of Supermarkets.

However like many other people I do not have the luxury of being able to 'shop around' local markets etc etc (I work full time outside our area an hour commute each way) 

Organic food , slow reared organic meat and wine from a specialist shop is of course the ideal...If you can afford it.

The majority of people cannot.

Pensioners cannot.

people on avarage to low income with kids cannot. 

That is why the likes of Aldi,Lidl, etc etc do well.

For many in 2023 their concern is getting food on the table, in their bellies, paying their rent heating bills etc.

Organic farm reared this and that is a luxury for many not a necessity.

[Angelina]

That is exactly  the problem.

It's too convenient to buy the plastic wrapped poor quality stuff, so the supermarkets will keep selling it.

It's a real battle when consumers have the power to make positive changes, but not if it's inconvenient.

There are stalls in East D, Peckham, Brixton and Herne Hill that sell fresh fruit and veg, not wrapped in plastic. You don't have to look far at all.

The argument for being too busy is not convincing. It's really just an excuse.

[alice]

stalls in East Dulwich? you mean the once a week market? prices are high there

 

try rye lane there's 3 permanent busy fruit and veg stalls - £1 a bowl - cheap

[Angelina]

no, not the North St market - that's just silly.

There is a fruit and veg shop further up but ED is far more expensive than Peckham/ Brixton/ HH for the same stuff.

Coop and M&S also do non packaged fruit & veg at decent prices.

[NewWave]

  On 15/11/2023 at 11:05, Angelina said:

That is exactly  the problem.

It's too convenient to buy the plastic wrapped poor quality stuff, so the supermarkets will keep selling it.

It's a real battle when consumers have the power to make positive changes, but not if it's inconvenient.

There are stalls in East D, Peckham, Brixton and Herne Hill that sell fresh fruit and veg, not wrapped in plastic. You don't have to look far at all.

The argument for being too busy is not convincing. It's really just an excuse.

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Not everyone is able to get to these places during working hours on weekdays.

Plus an older person may not want or be able to travel to get their shopping....

My point is....Supermarkets are convenient.

Speaking for myself its not an 'excuse'...I leave home at 8.30am get home at 7pm  I work north of the river as I'm sure many other locals without the luxury of working from home do.

My 'excuse' is I and many others need to go for what's convenient and offers a one stop shop.

I've stated I don't like supermarkets, I'd love to waft around buying organic or local produce...My finances and time constraints along with many other people's does not allow me to do so.

End of story...

You make your choice and don't criticise people who for many reasons have less choice.

 

 

[Angelina]

Yes, understand. However you can still buy produce that is not plastic wrapped 

[BrandNewGuy]

Covenience = more expensive. One of the first rules of retail.

[Pugwash]

If like me you are unable to carry heavy bags then once a week trip in car to a supermarket is essential. I use Sainsbury's. Lidl and Aldi - as I like variety of choice and price. I buy loose veg usually as I can pick out as I need to avoid food waste. I use own brands rather than big names and always look at the reduced items (2 this week which went into the freezer savings of £5). I like Aldi at Bell Green as parking is good - also other shops to look at if required. I watched in amazement yesterday at a middle aged woman picking up 4 packets of Uncle Ben's rice at £2.84 a packet when shops own brand was considerably less. Admittedly some items on my shopping list were not in stock so my bill was considerably lower.

I think it is also a question of education re food purchases etc. Both of my daughters tend to ignore brand names, one rarely purchases ready meals preferring to batch cook for herself and 2 primary age children. She works part time as a teacher but gets universal credit to boost her income and help pay for 2 days pre and after school child care. As she and one of the children have food intolerances she is limited with commercially made products.

I agree that you can get cheap fruits and veg off stalls in Rye lane (a large bowl of red/green grapes last week for £1) but supermarkets do have their uses.

[tiddles]

Went to sainsbos today... needed to get some animal supplies that I cannot get anywhere else. It seems to be a bit of a shambles. Lots of empty shelves/aisles. It just all seems odd - they started something 3 weeks ago that they have not got sorted. On the plus side, I have met up with lots of friends wandering around equally distracted, and had alovely catch up, and secondly, I cannot find alot of items so am saving loads of £££. I am thinking there is either some grand master plan for xmas, or the company is in financial trouble.....

 

 

[Angelina]

I like your shopping style, Pugwash. I do the same, but don’t drive, so just get what I can carry and go to different shops. We sometimes do a huge shop to stock up and get a cab, but not needed very often.

Lidl is cheap but bad with using non recyclable packaging. It does stop me buying things, as does animal welfare if I buy meat. I’d rather buy something else. 

We also cook rather than ready meals. It doesn’t take long and it means you have decent meals in the freezer. You can freeze rice too ( better than packet rice).

Our rubbish is very small, we recycle nearly everything and have very low waste, and eat well and cheaply, and I work full time, with kids.

it’s just easier than some people suggest.

for instance, it takes 15mins to make a tray of chocolate brownies or a cake, and much cheaper than the shops.

 

[sunbob]

I was worried about possible financial problems for them too. It really is left oddly in the middle of work, especially with the new tiles in the grocery section. You have to go uphill to go onto them! They must be a lot more expensive than just the lino from before and they have a lot more potential for trips and falls and will have to be regularly maintained to prevent that.

[jazzer]

It resembles work in progress, much of it is considered to be improvements, i.e. lighting the individual areas within the fruit and veg section, installation of the new low level refrigeration units etc, however it results in having to hunt around the store for what you wish to purchase, (maybe part of their plan to get customers to spend more). From week to week aisles have been moved to different locations within the store. The only help has been from the pieces of paper are now hanging at the end of aisles saying where things are. Otherwise it's pretty much "hunting season". 

I use Sainsbury's for particular items and ditto with Morrisons, (Asda/Tesco occasionally again for specific items)  and Lidl, plus a near on weekly trip to a butcher just off the Old Kent Road. It's a case of shopping around for the best prices for the things I need on a week to week basis, similar to what Pugwash does. 

[Lynne]

It's obvious they're not employing enough staff to do the re-organisation. So , once again, customer service is shown to be of no importance to them.

Queue yesterday at the supposedly quick area as half the machines weren't working and the poor staff were going non=stop trying to cope with all the queries. 

I've got to really dislike the shop as it is at the moment 

[Pugwash]

They are closed for 4 days from 1st December for refurbishment (or is it 3 days) I must admit I have converted to the SMART shop and scan items as I go along. This allows me to pack as I go along which saves time. You do not need a SMART phone - just scan your nectar card. in Lidl and Aldi - I go to the assistant aisles as not overkeen on self scan unless you only have a few items.

[sally buying]

If you are going to Sainsburys today allow a lot of time.

Many shelves are empty, a lot of the stuff has been moved and the staff , if you can find them, have no idea where the new places are.

I gave up and came home.

Good luck

[vladi]

I  used to go daily (for fresh bread) but not been there since Covid so I'm guessing the basic layout is the same ie the veggiesnear the entrance and the bread + booze is at the miles away at the other end. That way they had you passing all the other aisles which had high margin items on the end displays. 

I would be surprised that they had changed that basic layout. so is it only the aisles with the less  frequently purchase items that have been jumbled up?

Whatever, it must be heaps better than Ikea where you are locked into  following  an endless path with a series of right angle turns all the way to the end, without any means of escape - unless you take one of the fire escape doors!

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

  On 15/11/2023 at 20:10, NewWave said:

I've stated I don't like supermarkets, I'd love to waft around buying organic or local produce...

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You are being disingenuous. Obviously not everyone has the time to walk up and down Lordship Lane or Rye Lane for their shopping. I don't either.  But buying stuff at local shops that aren't Sainsburys doesn't necessarily mean buying expensive or luxury stuff.