Have the big supermarkets had their day ???

Stompa

JackieO wrote: »

Hi just been reading online about how the bigger supermarkets are opening 'local' smaller stores to capture the smaller markets.

Indeed, but of course the prices in those smaller stores is generally higher than in the bigger supermarkets.

newroadahead

I remember a number of years ago going shopping in a local S'bugs
which had been refurbished and noticed that the food area had shrunk but most things like meat were being sold in bulk.


I asked one of the "managers" and was told that the store catered for families... when I pointed out that a couple is also a family he said we should buy the larger portions as they would last longer .


I also said what about pensioners like my in laws and he said that their market research showed that the local area was made up of more large family shoppers.....


I wish I had a local reasonably priced Green Grocer or butcher but think they are sadly in decline, even the butcher in a local town seems to sell in packs.


There are farmer markets once a month but they can be quite pricey.


I remember as a little girl my nan lived in a village and the butcher and baker came round three times a week and a man with a bus filled with veg and tins etc came round twice a week.
The local pub sold milk and bread for emergencies. There was only one bus a week to the local town which probably explains why these other facilities were utilised so well.

duchy

I think the big supermarkets are simply doing what travel agents did.

Thirty years ago there were as many if not more independent travel agencies -Many were family owned and offered a wide choice of holidays. Over time almost all were squeezed out of the market by the likes Of Thomas Cook with uneconomic price cutting. Now there is no choice on the high street -and the consumer instead of (as Cooks etc expected) buying travel with the multiples are now using online companies insted where choice is wider and pricing generally better.

I do believe the supermarkets are using the same stratagy- remove choice -regardless of short term cost- to ensure long term higher market share. It's not good news for the consumer. The rise in the internet stopped Cooks etc stratagy working -but for food -I could see it working for the supermarkets.

Butterfly_Brain

I can tell you that the smaller supermarkets will charge more because they are classed as premium stores so they charge higher prices, I was in retail for 15 years so I know their tricks.
I avoid the big supermarkets like the plague and prefer to use the local butcher, market, greengrocer and farm shop. If I do need things like soap powder etc I will get them from Aldi. I buy 10 bags of basic cornflakes and 8 cooking bacon once a month in Sainsbury.
I only go to Asda again once a month for DH's Lemon Tea
I never use Tesco or Morrisons
I saved lots of money last year shopping this way and plan on doing the same this year.

lil_me

I genuinely hope so

worried_jim

I go to the nearest supermarket with free parking buy the stuff I need and go home. Whats the problem here?

Nelski

No JackieO I don't think they have had their day - I just think they are expanding their markets to reach the likes of people on this thread who are able to shop daily/regularly.

Personally I have 2 stores within the same distance ish one is a small but very lovely sainburys and the other a big huge Asda. If I need a top up like bread or fresh veg (or wine ) I will nip to Sainsburys but even though I live on my own I also have a regular big shop at Asda where I can get absolutely everything I need (including clothes/cosmetics) under one roof - it even has a pharmacy an optician and a hot food area for take away.

Businesses that succeed are ones that are able to flex to the current needs and whilst some people want the big shop, others want (and have the time to do..) small shops therefore lets have both I love the choice and it would be shame to see any of the options closed off

Nelski

lil_me wrote: »

I genuinely hope so

just out of interest ….why?

busiscoming2

I don't think they have quite had their day yet, but must be struggling with the fact most people are having to watch the pennies.

I for one used to do all my shopping once a week in the big Tesco but more recently I buy my meat from the butcher and the rest from Aldi and Iceland (not the frozen stuff, but milk, veg and bread are cheaper).

[Deleted User]

reading through the posts it seems that folk shop for all sorts ofthings in the big supermarkets and I don't blame them.It would be sad to see the 'corner shop' go under though as it too has its uses.I am very lucky where I live as I am in short walking distance of a small precinct with a tesco metro (horrible place thats just been refurbished with everything in cold cabinets ) an Iceland ,which is just the right size for the area,there are quite a few older folk who use it,me included,and a big Wilkinsons.This brought a lot of trade in locally as its easier to park than going three miles down the road to Chatham.
There is also a G/grocers,Greggs,Boots and in Station Road a wet-fish shop.I can shop locally for almost anything apart from maybe clothes which doesn't bother me much anyway.We do seem to have an abundance of C/S though ,as if a shop shuts down it seems to be turned into a C/S almost overnight.We even have a Costa Coffee and about 6 small cafes and three pubs.its nice not having to travel far to get things ,and its not often I go to the big supermarkets at all,but I do drive to Aldi's,sainsbugs and Morriesons.There is an enormous Tescos about a mile away but its just too much walking around to find anything so I rarely use that.For those who live further out in the countryside it must be difficult to get a big shop but I suppose the advent of online shopping helps families who maybe only have access to one car.I think perhaps the economic climate has made many people cut back on the 'big' shop now though and often I have driven past Mr Ts and its virtually empty
so either folk are haging on to their cash more or have just decided to be a bit more pickky about where and what they buy and are shopping around more .When the local Tesco's had a refurb lots of folk decided that as they only seem to stock the higher priced stuff the went elsewhere,I know I have