a month without supermarket - new challenge for 2011 starts at post 1013

hex2

merlin68 wrote: »

The only thing i am stuck with is dishwasher tablets.

You can get the ecover ones from the ethical superstore type place, and probably goodness foods? Greenbee posted a link to both which may help. They are on quidco as well I think.

anguk

ubamother wrote: »

it may be more difficult to avoid the big supermarkets than you think - for example, the small convenience store chain One Stop is owned by Tesco - presumably you don't have to compete with the 'competition' if you own it!

I didn't know that! :eek: There's a Mills store near my SIL and she uses it regularly and sure enough it's listed as owned by Tesco on the link JustKeepSwimming posted.

phizzimum

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

The other problem is we live in a block of flats with a communal (sp?) entrance so I'm not sure where a milkman would put the milk! Do you know what time they usually deliever?

We've only been using the milkman for about a week but everyday he's delivered by 7am

anguk

Oh my goodness! I had a bit of a google about Tesco to try and find out what they own and found this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268832/Tesco-launches-brand-mini-villages-South-East.html

Tesco's plans were boosted last month when Lambeth Council approved its plan to build 200 homes, a bus depot and ice rink in Streatham, South London.

Why do councils give them planning permission for something like this? I can just imagine the Tesco bosses meeting now, "there'll be opposition to us building yet another huge store so lets chuck in some houses, a bus depot and an ice rink, that'll keep them quiet". :mad:

I also found this that I found quite funny but then got a shiver down my spine because the way Tesco is going I can almost see it happening! :eek:
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/08/19/tesco-to-launch-own-brand-currency/

Spiggle

anguk wrote: »

Oh my goodness! I had a bit of a google about Tesco to try and find out what they own and found this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268832/Tesco-launches-brand-mini-villages-South-East.html

Why do councils give them planning permission for something like this? I can just imagine the Tesco bosses meeting now, "there'll be opposition to us building yet another huge store so lets chuck in some houses, a bus depot and an ice rink, that'll keep them quiet". :mad:

I also found this that I found quite funny but then got a shiver down my spine because the way Tesco is going I can almost see it happening! :eek:
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/08/19/tesco-to-launch-own-brand-currency/

Ang,

It's a totally legal form of bribery and corruption by the big supermarkets enshrined in law and called 'planning gain'. And it stinks!

All the best,
Spigs

artichoke

Hi all

I have not really got to grips with this challenge myself yet....

but i have done some research that might be usefull for those looking for alternative sources of foods - particularly local foods

Here is a list of some of the independent suppliers of foods:


Somerset local foods direct
http://www.sfmdirect.co.uk/


StroudCo
http://www.stroudco.org.uk/


Northern Harvest
http://www.northernharvest.co.uk/

We are setting up a similar online ordering system for local food in Derbyshire at the moment.

Plus also independent supermarkets are springing up.

London
http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/

Manchester
http://www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/


Plus lots of other wholefood and local food co-ops are listed here in the Sustain Food Co-ops finder
http://www.sustainweb.org/foodcoops/


art

greenbee

hex2 wrote: »

You can get the ecover ones from the ethical superstore type place, and probably goodness foods? Greenbee posted a link to both which may help. They are on quidco as well I think.

I also get dishwasher stuff from my local healthfood shop. They do both the ecover tabs and the clear spring gel. Might be worth a look or seeing if either of them list stockists in your area.

Lily-Lu

anguk wrote: »

Oh my goodness! I had a bit of a google about Tesco to try and find out what they own and found this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268832/Tesco-launches-brand-mini-villages-South-East.html

Good grief, mini-villages:eek: what next?:(

Tesco have been after building a store close to me for several years now; there was lots of opposition, but alas, they got their own way in the end and the store opened a couple of months ago. I wonder what incentives were brought to the table, there?
I haven't seen it and definitely won't be setting foot in the door.

Things are going quite well here. Still haven't managed to find strong flour for bread, but if all else fails, I'll make it with plain; after all, people were happily using normal plain flour for bread making for years before the strong stuff appeared.

We have what used to be a Londis shop just around the corner. It's a family owned affair and a few things are actually cheaper than the supermarket. I popped in there today, and they have packs of cheddar cheese (mild and mature) for £3.20 a kilogramme:T. The last time that I bought cheddar from the supermarket, which was early last year, it was over £5 a kilogramme and that was mild cheddar from the value/basics range. It just shows that it's not wise to just assume some things can't be bought cheaper at an independent shop:)

Keep up the good work everybody:D

JustKeepSwimming_2

anguk wrote: »

I also found this that I found quite funny but then got a shiver down my spine because the way Tesco is going I can almost see it happening! :eek:
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/08/19/tesco-to-launch-own-brand-currency/

Never heard of this site before - hilarious, especially the story about the Wombles :rotfl:. But you are quite right that it wouldn't be a huge leap for that to happen... (Tesco I mean, not the Wombles).

flea72

merlin68 wrote: »

I'm going to get organic flour and oats from marraiges to make bread etc myself. The cat food will come from a place on the A12 and dad will get my toilet tolls from the cash and carry

i know there is a Marriages feed shop in colchester, does that stock flour too? or are you ordering the flour direct from the mill?

if the pet food shop is off the A12 in Marks Tey, then their catfood is cheaper than the supermarkets :T (and their chicken feed is way cheaper than Marriages too for anyone interested)

F