In response to general issues "iceland closure"

[Earl Aelfheah]

That's fair Miga. I do hope that Mark's will try to find new jobs for the Iceland staff effected by this.

[Louisa]

I have written directly to Iceland twice about this store closure and have yet to receive a reply. I have also contacted James Barber about finding a way to encourage Iceland to open a similar sized store in the local area, which to be fair seems unlikely as people such as Waitrose and Morrisons are still on the hunt for limited retail space. I am not mourning the passing of a chain store, I'm more concerned about the future of the staff who a lot of local people have have built a great relationship with over the years, and indeed the knock on effect of removing a low cost supermarket and replacing with a more expensive food store that those Iceland customers are less likely to visit. I can contact M&S directly too if that will help, or maybe James Barber would be able to contact them?

Louisa.

[Otta]

Go for it Lou, you know the peole, it will be more personal.

[mcnipper]

If the staff in Iceland are so brilliant I'm sure they'll find other jobs.

There's nothing to stop these 'great relationships' with Iceland staff continuing - why not meet them in a pub if they're your best friends?

I, for one, hope that Iceland do not open another store in the area. A Waitrose would be far more welcome.

[Louisa]

But how many up market supermarkets does one area need mcnipper? Surely you can appreciate my point that those people on a budget are less likely to drive and less likely to have the funds to travel to visit a cheaper supermarket. And equally, a lot of elderly people who rely on the shop may not be able to walk long distances to other low cost stores. Wouldn't it be better if we at least kept one budget shop within walking distance of our high street rather than encourage the likes of Waitrose who will equally be out of reach for a huge section of our community.

Louisa.

[*Bob*]

MS and Iceland are two ends of the same shitty shick; both play to the worst instincts of their different demographic.

I'd rather have a Lidl.

[Louisa]

Lidl would need a large out of town site as they currently don't have "express" options on the high street. Having said that, the one in Penge is in the old furniture shop.

Louisa.

[Otta]

Penge and Sydenham Lidls are similar in size, and probably comparrable to the current ED Iceland.

[camberwell70]

Otta Wrote:

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> Penge and Sydenham Lidls are similar in size, and

> probably comparrable to the current ED Iceland

Wow, is there anything you don't know!

[Otta]

Er, loads, but having lived in these areas I'm reasonably clued up on the local shops.

[aquarius moon]

camberwell70 Wrote:

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>

> Wow, is there anything you don't know!

Otta knows everything. I actually think he's Superman in disguise. ;-)

[Earl Aelfheah]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> MS and Iceland are two ends of the same shitty

> shick; both play to the worst instincts of their

> different demographic.

>

> I'd rather have a Lidl.

Yeah, agree with this.

[Bovine Juice]

The Penge one is pretty small really, about the same size as the Penge Iceland in fact.

[Jah Lush]

Lidl would have been an ideal replacement.

[malumbu]

I spent three days at Iceland's HQ for training in 1998. A very progressive company and I enjoyed telling everyone I was in Iceland for a few days. Ho ho. I turned down going to the usual suspects.

What I found was a very progressive company, who picked up execs from the usual suspects and at the time were almost single handedly keeping the high street going (days before cheque cashing shops and poundland).

They were the first (and probably) only chain to shift to organic veg - sadly a home goal as their demographic didn't want organic. I still have difficulties going into the shop due to the horrid branding - sounds a bit shallow, but I expect many of you can outcompete me there. Where I work they have to have Pret a manger's both side of the street to save people crossing the road, and the queue's are out of the door at lunch time. Meanwhile the independents are just managing.

It's a load of twonk really.