Starbucks Closures. 300 Stores, 6700 Jobs - 2/3rds in the US. Business Down 69%

Conflict

Idiophreak wrote: »

Have been thinking about this and actually, it's quite a shrewd move by Starbucks. They're well known for their clusterbombing, so I wonder how many of the branches that are going were every designed to be profitable in the first place...They've operated them at a loss for a while, driven out the competition and have now been handed a get out of jail free card "economic climate" to close these places down without the public, or the press, calling them on it. Now they can just sit back, count the money rolling in and start planning for the next great plan...

Or am I being a little cynical?

Nope sounds exactly like what this store closure/job cuts probably are.

tomstickland

There's no way I'd buy food from McDonalds.

Snooze

Idiophreak wrote: »

Have a look at this for a guide:

http://www.subwayqueensway.co.uk/pricelist.html

:eek:

How much for a small soft drink?!!? !!!!!!. Sarnies are cheap though but it's just that "commercialness" of them that puts me off. I'd much rather getting a sarnie from a mobile van or a greasy spoon any day. There's something satisfying about getting food from greasy spoons too; makes you enjoy it more.

Rob

Lotus-eater

tomstickland wrote: »

There's no way I'd buy food from McDonalds.

Agreed, big time. Ugh, can't remember the last one I had.

lynzpower

Its my understandig that all subway fillings are made in China and shipped over. Including the little portions of cooked "steak" in the gravy in the trays. I was told this by one of the staff who worked at a subway just outside cancun ( albeit it was a few years ago)

Given that the consumer has absolutely no idea when that animal was slaughtered - im not interested thanks. I neveerbuty prepackaged sandwiches, and its one of the few things I have resisted over the years.

My OHs mum used ot work for a guy who imported cooked sandwich fillings from china. If you go into your local independent and they have the largesquare tupperware tubs with chicken & sweetcorn, or tuna mexican etc, chances are they have been imported from China. this is also used in a lot of supermarket sandwiches. I also know from working in tescos, that a sandwich can take a least 1 week to get from delivery van- to fridge in the back-- to shelf.God knows when it was actually produced. it seems fresh as it is crammed with all sorts of chemicals and salt.

If Im out and about I tend to veer towards independent for a no-nonsense cheesse & onion toastie. Im so over "mystery meat" and the way its produced.

Idiophreak

lynzpower wrote: »

Its my understandig that all subway fillings are made in China and shipped over. Including the little portions of cooked "steak" in the gravy in the trays. I was told this by one of the staff who worked at a subway just outside cancun ( albeit it was a few years ago)

...
My OHs mum used ot work for a guy who imported cooked sandwich fillings from china. If you go into your local independent and they have the largesquare tupperware tubs with chicken & sweetcorn, or tuna mexican etc, chances are they have been imported from China. this is also used in a lot of supermarket sandwiches.

So what do you have against China?

facingthefuture

my cousin owned a restaurant, last year some of his staff were poached for the new Starbucks - he said their wages were very good - he felt like applying himself (this guy had a nice place).
He also told me what the rent/lease was in the shopping centre, totally extortionate. He said he could not understand how it could turn a profit.
I look over anytime I am passing and it seems very quiet..I feel sorry for the staff.
The shopping centre has already lost a Zavvi, Adams, and possibly Barretts (in admin), M&S has halved in size too! Still, better for the independents - maybe now they will have a chance?|That is if the councils don't pulverise them for rates.:eek:

facingthefuture

Idiophreak wrote: »

So what do you have against China?

Their quality controls are dreadful. Thats why WHO is permanently stationed checking for bird flu etc. What about the dodgy toothpaste, dodgy baby milk? I would be very wary of their produce.
Mind you, the stuff from the US is full or hormones and GM.I guess the UK is known for its CJD.

Really growing it in your allotment/garden organically seems the best.

lynzpower

Idiophreak wrote: »

So what do you have against China?

I have absolutely nothing against China, and happily buy many products manufactured there- but find it very unpleasant that food has / we choose to be transported from the other side of the world to our plates. I personally am concerned about animal husbandry in China too, (and dont suppose they keep thier chickens (or eggs!) free range, which I personally would want. Did you see that programme on C4 recently ( in last 4 months certainly) about the chinese factory that had made fake eggs out of plastics and were selling them into the food chain? Must now be on 4OD. Confirmed everything my MIL told me about the transportation system. that is used.

Im particularly concerned about mayonaisse and raw eggs - it could be made whenever, transported , chilled, unchiled, retransported, off to makro, sit in the back of an unchilled van- etc. Not the sort of risk Id want to take with meat or raw eggs thanks!

Just saying, be aware. What you are eating might not be what you think it is.

Idiophreak

lynzpower wrote: »

Just saying, be aware. What you are eating might not be what you think it is.

I don't think subway try to sell themselves as any kind of "good food", do they? I've never seen anything to suggest they're trying to be any "better" than anyone else - I've not heard anything about free range, fair trade, GM-Free, organic stuff etc...That being the case, I guess the question is really whether they're any worse than anything else on the high street, which I've not really heard anything about tbh...

I don't think anyone's under the illusion that they're getting a local, organically produced, 100% meat "steak and cheese" sub for their £3, are they? I think most people know that they get what they pay for and just try not to think too much about where it actually comes from...