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Post by remmington on Aug 24, 2021 20:14:55 GMT 1
Inflation - price of food. Not been in supermarket buying food for years (wifey does it). But been doing a few erands for my aging parents of late. Plus went with my Daughter this afternoon (she was shopping for a family of five kids) her car is in my garage (having a free clutch  ) and I took her shopping. Pack of butter with a name on it - is £1.50... I was shocked how much stuff/food costs now... On talking to my Daughter she reckons things have gone up lots of late - she just can't see where the inflation figure of 2.1% comes from. She did smile and say - if it is the same dept in the government who publishes the covid infection/death rates - you could take them with a pinch of salt as well.  |
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Post by Rhubarb on Aug 24, 2021 21:26:04 GMT 1
I buy the bulk of my shopping in Aldi...Have done now for over ten years.. Saves me a bomb..  |
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Post by remmington on Aug 24, 2021 21:34:33 GMT 1
I buy the bulk of my shopping in Aldi...Have done now for over ten years.. Saves me a bomb.. Never been in an Aldi. There is Lidl at the top of the Ind. Est. where my workshop is. I go in there for tea and milk - coffee - loo roll and other stuff for workshop. |
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Post by wightdiag on Aug 24, 2021 22:29:32 GMT 1
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Post by rhyds on Aug 25, 2021 11:46:43 GMT 1
Food shopping has become a right annoyance of mine at the moment.
Where I live (Rural North Wales) the only local (sub 20 miles) supermarkets are both co-op stores, and they've been pretty useless of late. A combination of a massively increased number of visitors coupled with their utterly hopeless stock control means that shelves have been bare of random stuff. For example there wasn't a single multipack of crisps/snacks available for weeks recently, and while there is a well publicised shortage of HGV drivers that's causing knock-on effects in many industries I find it very odd that the large supermarkets in places like Wrexham and Oswestry are nearly fully stocked (with only the odd missing item) while our co-ops aren't.
Far be it for me to suggest that it might have something to do with the co-op knowing they have no local competition...
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Post by Rhubarb on Aug 25, 2021 12:02:44 GMT 1
Food shopping has become a right annoyance of mine at the moment. Where I live (Rural North Wales) the only local (sub 20 miles) supermarkets are both co-op stores, and they've been pretty useless of late. A combination of a massively increased number of visitors coupled with their utterly hopeless stock control means that shelves have been bare of random stuff. For example there wasn't a single multipack of crisps/snacks available for weeks recently, and while there is a well publicised shortage of HGV drivers that's causing knock-on effects in many industries I find it very odd that the large supermarkets in places like Wrexham and Oswestry are nearly fully stocked (with only the odd missing item) while our co-ops aren't. Far be it for me to suggest that it might have something to do with the co-op knowing they have no local competition... Are the Co-Ops short staffed? Ping/stay at home etc.. I use Aldi and Tesco, Aldi are better stocked!! |
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Post by rhyds on Aug 25, 2021 12:51:04 GMT 1
Food shopping has become a right annoyance of mine at the moment. Where I live (Rural North Wales) the only local (sub 20 miles) supermarkets are both co-op stores, and they've been pretty useless of late. A combination of a massively increased number of visitors coupled with their utterly hopeless stock control means that shelves have been bare of random stuff. For example there wasn't a single multipack of crisps/snacks available for weeks recently, and while there is a well publicised shortage of HGV drivers that's causing knock-on effects in many industries I find it very odd that the large supermarkets in places like Wrexham and Oswestry are nearly fully stocked (with only the odd missing item) while our co-ops aren't. Far be it for me to suggest that it might have something to do with the co-op knowing they have no local competition... Are the Co-Ops short staffed? Ping/stay at home etc.. I use Aldi and Tesco, Aldi are better stocked!! I don't think its a local staffing issue, more that the stores aren't getting deliveries of some items in to their stockrooms. From what I can see the co-op are still running offers etc on these items, so I'm thinking they're prioritising stores in urban areas where there's lots of competition at the expense of the "captive market" that is rural areas (you don't run offers on stuff that's in short supply). To be fair its not a problem for me, as the corner shop has really good stock of most stuff and I can drive to the nearest Aldi/Lidl/Morrisons etc for everything else, however it will be an issue for the less mobile. |
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Post by Joepublic on Aug 25, 2021 13:09:58 GMT 1
Food shopping has become a right annoyance of mine at the moment. Where I live (Rural North Wales) the only local (sub 20 miles) supermarkets are both co-op stores, and they've been pretty useless of late. A combination of a massively increased number of visitors coupled with their utterly hopeless stock control means that shelves have been bare of random stuff. For example there wasn't a single multipack of crisps/snacks available for weeks recently, and while there is a well publicised shortage of HGV drivers that's causing knock-on effects in many industries I find it very odd that the large supermarkets in places like Wrexham and Oswestry are nearly fully stocked (with only the odd missing item) while our co-ops aren't. Far be it for me to suggest that it might have something to do with the co-op knowing they have no local competition... Our coop had very little in the snacks isle too for a few weeks so it’s a national thing rather than local |
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Post by Rhubarb on Aug 25, 2021 14:03:02 GMT 1
Two close family members have suggested to me to go for my HGV partly because of the above reasons...
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Post by valhalla on Aug 25, 2021 18:50:23 GMT 1
We have no problems on our shop. Surprising really, since it's one of the most remote shops in the British Isles. Several things conspire to make this so, but altogether it means we can beat the supermarkets at their own game; * Mrs Valhalla is just brilliant at getting the orders coordinated * She also works to 10:00pm or later every night, yet closes at no later than 7:00pm * I have a stock-control system that rivals the best out there * We have more than 28 suppliers feeding into us
The problem with most shops is that they are run by people who are tired - no rest during any of the lockdowns, just expected to be there 24/7. They are also in places where the public knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing.
People come from the local townships around the North of Skye ro shop with us, partly because we have a little of everything, and most of it is local, but also it means they don't have to rub shoulders with the visitors in the bigger towns. We wouldn't tolerate half the behaviour that seems to be normal in the Summer in Portree/Broadford, just utter rudeness and arrogance from people who bring their problems with them on holiday (nutcases, most of them!)
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Post by remmington on Aug 25, 2021 19:40:40 GMT 1
We have no problems on our shop. Surprising really, since it's one of the most remote shops in the British Isles. Several things conspire to make this so, but altogether it means we can beat the supermarkets at their own game; * Mrs Valhalla is just brilliant at getting the orders coordinated * She also works to 10:00pm or later every night, yet closes at no later than 7:00pm * I have a stock-control system that rivals the best out there * We have more than 28 suppliers feeding into us The problem with most shops is that they are run by people who are tired - no rest during any of the lockdowns, just expected to be there 24/7. They are also in places where the public knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. People come from the local townships around the North of Skye ro shop with us, partly because we have a little of everything, and most of it is local, but also it means they don't have to rub shoulders with the visitors in the bigger towns. We wouldn't tolerate half the behaviour that seems to be normal in the Summer in Portree/Broadford, just utter rudeness and arrogance from people who bring their problems with them on holiday (nutcases, most of them!)
Just been Googling A87 "Skye Bridge" - 1995. |
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Post by valhalla on Aug 25, 2021 19:57:55 GMT 1
Just been Googling A87 "Skye Bridge" - 1995. Our supplies typically travel not less than 135miles to reach us, and that is most days of the week....
We are the most Westerly store on the UK Mainland (if you count the bridge as being mainland), by a huge margin.
You are correct about the prices; I have to check the till for almost every sale : "That cannae be right!!" as I'm not behind the counter enough.
The prices are dictated by the input commodity values, and they have shot up immensely, but before everyone dives for the "Brexit" get-out clause, consider this - The prices were going upwards last Summer, not all of them at the same time, but when you have access to a broad range of commodity data (I do), you can see trends.
What is driving the prices, as far as I can see, is a combination of Covid + lockdowns (the governments do not seemed to have grasped that they distorted the markets badly by their decisions in this respect) and climate issues; grass and feed prices are forcing meat & dairy upwards by 5% or so, even in the last couple of months, but also you just cannot get the commodities if the ground has burned (South America, West Coast USA, Southern EU) and therefore the market is a mercenary one.
It shocks me, but we have enjoyed cheap food for a little too long now, since the early 1970's with supermarkets, and that is now readjusting as it become necessary to produce more locally - where possible - and import less from parts of the world that we were treating like slaves to satisfy our over-engorged guts.....
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Post by remmington on Aug 26, 2021 21:24:33 GMT 1
Two close family members have suggested to me to go for my HGV partly because of the above reasons... I got a C+E licence - never had a lorry driving job. I would think if you gotta C licence (rigid) - you could score a nice little local wagon driving job - sand/gravel in pits in an 8wheeler. Artic driving and nights out is no fun - being away all week. What you are after is a job where the goods are unloaded for you or tipped off. Even a Hiab ticket and a job for a builders merchants would be a doddle. You don't want multidrop or stuff in cages with a pallet truck. Chap near where I live and I bump into and chat to dog walking has just taken his rigid test in his early 50's and got himself a job - driving round collecting eggs en mass from chicken farms. He rocks up in an 18ton wagon and they fork lift pallets of eggs on for him - he gets back to the yard and they forlift them off for him. He used to work in retail in a shop before this for 35 years since leaving school. He likes it 8 till 4pm - drive slowly and don't smash the eggs was the only brief... |
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Post by valhalla on Aug 27, 2021 0:05:02 GMT 1
He likes it 8 till 4pm - drive slowly and don't smash the eggs was the only brief... It must be the only driving job in the UK where the bosses don't want you to break the speed-limits to achieve your day's work........
Most HGV jobs look great, until you realise the pressure that is on the drivers to keep the cadence when the roads do not allow it. Then you add-in the government-sponsored c**p about Continuous Professional Development (all at the driver's own expense and time) and you can see why the old-boys are just making a beeline for the door.
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Post by Joepublic on Aug 27, 2021 8:04:32 GMT 1
When I was made redundant 20 yeras ago I looked at HGV jobs but virtually all wanted a minimum 2 years experience for insurance reasons.
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) and I took her shopping.
