Re: Result!

[Fran]

That would be why they both keep winning "best of" food surveys, then.

[Andy Hall]

No, dear.

Just pointing out that there are several parts to the sector and that the premium end doesn't compete with the discount end.

It's an illustration that this part of the market doesn't really work in the UK other than in a very small way. The demise of Kwik Save demonstrated that. The German discounters have had essentially flat market share for nearly ten years.

If one could bring oneself to eat something like this from one of these places. Their olive oil sourcing "issue" was bad enough and really throws into question their whole sourcing arrangement. Seafood is far too high in risk factor when it comes to origin to seriously consider buyinh it from a discount supermarket.

The figures don't appear to demonstrate that, unless people are buying twice.

[Andy Hall]

Surveys are surveys and meaningless unless one knows which questions were asked of whom.

[:Jerry:]

They ALL do that for all their market competitors / suppliers all the time.

[:Jerry:]

No, they took the threat seriously, were Tesco scored was in having new or newly converted retail shops, JS being saddled with many outdated stores well into the 60's.

[:Jerry:]

Was that before they sacked you for being an incompetent fool?

[:Jerry:]

Tesco is concerned about ALL their competitors, in all sectors.

[:Jerry:]

This would be why Morrisons have spent a LOT of money attempting to go 'up-market' then...

[Fran]

Oh, are you gay, then?

Not what you said.

Are you claiming that Somerfield was a discounter?

You know, you really are coming across as a howling snob. Now, I've no problem with where anyone chooses to shop - their choice. But I do think you should be honest about your reasons.

[Fran]

Of course. But they don't mock up complete copies of all of their stores.

[Fran]

Oh dear. The resort of those who can't argue on the basis of fact. I said I worked with them, by the way, not for them.

[The Older Gentleman]

You're perhaps just looking at the cardboard boxes everywhere, the poor displays, the lack of signage.

Look at the products themselves. There are some surprisingly good things there. I bought some frozen lobster at Aldi recently. A fiver a pop. Small lobsters, I grant you, but still....

Like I say, they've shaken off the 'cheap crap' image in germany and the change is starting to happen here.

[The Older Gentleman]

You do not have the *slightest* idea what you are talking about. If you were talking independent discount shops, I might agree. But you are talking about two huge German chains who really, really know what they are buying.

And *I* know this because I talk to their suppliers every working week.

[The Older Gentleman]

And Sainsbury is up for a supplier bribe incident now. Not the first, and won't be the last. And you don't know what you're talking about.

[The Older Gentleman]

Not really, no. The products and the tastes differ in key aspects, but a supply chain is a supply chain. They also have oddities like the Eismann and BoFrost home delivery chains which have never really taken off, but otherwise, it's a mass retail amrket, just like ours.

Aldi has some very, very sharp buyers. Sure, people buy on price, but the point is that Aldi also sells quality goods, and the UK model is following the German one.

Your rants seem to be based on personal perception rather than any actual involvement in the business. Please believe me: I probably know more about this than you do.

[The Older Gentleman]

Well, let's assume they did, instead of automatically assuming the worst, as you consistently do.

[The Older Gentleman]

As any good business should be. Thank you.

[The Older Gentleman]

Well, I assume so. Hence by use of the word 'presently'. Actually, I don't think I know anyone who does business with the Morrisons chain.

[:Jerry:]

Well my family has being doing business with Tesco since the 1950s, so basically I telling you that (based on what you have posted here) you know f*ck all about the subject, if you really did work on the industry you would have been sacked for gross incompetence - you're clueless!

[:Jerry:]

Don't thank me, I've just blown your 'argument' out of the water!