Waitrose and the Heston Black Forest Buche

QuackQuack_2

meer53 wrote: »

I disagree. You're not going to change the mindset of Waitrose shoppers, they're fiercely loyal.

Sure - I totally agree, but they won't ever be seeing any of my money - but then, they may consider that to be 'new' money and quite vulgar

rustyboy21

What most of you are not taking into account, is that it is a brilliant piece of marketing for Waitrose.

Think of how many Non Waitrose customers, who have gone into their stores after never visiting one before and found they were out of stock of the buche.

You have made your journey, you don't just go in for that, you mooch around. I defy anyone not to buy something whilst in the store. Even if you just come out with a few special items, the advert has done it's job, iy has brought another customer into the store and they have made a profit.

It is exactly the same as Comet advertising a TV for 99p on sale Boxing Day, Harrods doing a mink coat for £100, Easyjet doing a flight for 99p. They are used to attract customers to their brand. They would only have a handful of the items, when they are gone, they are gone, people will look at alternatives instead.

At the end of the day, it is only a bloody cake ! I wouldn't be surprised if Iceland or Farm foods/Lidl etc have something very similar at a fraction of the price. But that wont be posh enough will it for most people

brettcta

the 3 that were in my freezer the other day now have 2 more chums for company.

QuackQuack_2

rustyboy21 wrote: »

What most of you are not taking into account, is that it is a brilliant piece of marketing for Waitrose.

Think of how many Non Waitrose customers, who have gone into their stores after never visiting one before and found they were out of stock of the buche.

You have made your journey, you don't just go in for that, you mooch around. I defy anyone not to buy something whilst in the store.

I NEARLY did, then I saw the queues, put the basket down and said to myself "F... this for a game of soilders". But I admit, it was close. I'm glad I did walk out and that service was so bad. I nearly paid £2 for 4 small pork pies, and £2 for 2 Scotch Eggs. Hell, I must have been mad.

Thankfully though, because of the experience I'll never go back to a Waitrose. I used to be quite vocally locally about Waitrose opening in my town but that's been hosed now too :rotfl:

It was very close, but my brain was saved by what I now know to be standard poor customer service from Waitrose.

I guess the final thought I have, following a bit of research, is if Heston made it - I can't be sure I won't get food poisoning if I did have one! Bon Appetite Brettcha!

rustyboy21

QuackQuack wrote: »

I NEARLY did, then I saw the queues, put the basket down and said to myself "F... this for a game of soilders". But I admit, it was close. I'm glad I did walk out and that service was so bad. I nearly paid £2 for 4 small pork pies, and £2 for 2 Scotch Eggs. Hell, I must have been mad.

Thankfully though, because of the experience I'll never go back to a Waitrose. I used to be quite vocally locally about Waitrose opening in my town but that's been hosed now too :rotfl:

It was very close, but my brain was saved by what I now know to be standard poor customer service from Waitrose.

I guess the final thought I have, following a bit of research, is if Heston made it - I can't be sure I won't get food poisoning if I did have one! Bon Appetite Brettcha!

He has most likely hidden sea foam in it somewhere or has the active ingredient of snails to enhance flavour

rustyboy21

brettcta wrote: »

the 3 that were in my freezer the other day now have 2 more chums for company.

You're just trying to wind up middle England now aren't you? :rotfl:

QuackQuack_2

rustyboy21 wrote: »

He has most likely hidden sea foam in it somewhere or has the active ingredient of snails to enhance flavour

Perhaps it wasn't just 'nora' :-)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/20/fat-duck-heston-blumenthal-norovirus

meer53

QuackQuack wrote: »

Sure - I totally agree, but they won't ever be seeing any of my money - but then, they may consider that to be 'new' money and quite vulgar

My nearest Waitrose is 25 miles away, i'm pleased because i just know that if it was local, i'd be in there looking longingly at the stuff they sell, before my sensible head kicks in and says "don't be stupid, it's probably half the price at Lidl " ! But i know absolutely that i wouldn't be able to come out without something !

competitionscafe

Stabiliser Blend contains Emulsifiers Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids and Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids, Water, Humectant Sorbitol Syrup, Stabiliser Propylene Glycol.
Gelling Blend contains Stabilisers Disodium Diphosphate and Tricalcium Phosphate, Pectin, Corn Dextrose.
http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Heston-from-Waitrose-Black-Forest-Buche/65705011

Doesn't sound that appetising to me!

The only Heston for Waitrose stuff I have tried are the pies (average) and the popcorn ice-cream (quite good) - both when on offer. Most of it gets mixed reviews: http://www.ocado.com/webshop/getSearchProducts.do?clearTabs=yes&entry=heston#index=0

As for the infamous Bûche - here is one verdict:

Pros: Looks the part with nice packaging etc. Mousse OK. Cherry nice. Snob value.

Cons: Unbalanced. Overpriced. Not enough tangy cherry to offset the chocolate. 70s flashbacks enduring, despite medication.
From: http://thegastroclub.com/2011/12/11/the-not-so-mighty-buche/

vyle

I use waitrose occasionally. Stuff like the chicken breast (which is £10 or something crazy) is identical to the higher grade tesco stuff, and the same as M&S (but M&S specified half the quantity for the same retail price), so says my friend who managed the chicken production line at the sourcing factory (they also supplied KFC).

Yet Waitrose is useful for getting more obscure items, and my local one has always had fast service and great staff. Like all companies, staff can vary. I had a shockingly bad woman at Tesco customer services today, for example. A bottle of cider exploded in my trolley and a security guard saw and advised I take it to CS for a refund. It took myself and the guard a lengthy conversation with her before she grudgingly accepted that I may not have dropped it and growled to put my card into the card reader. Other times I've had dealings with CS in Tesco they've been fine.