Supermarket Question 5 December 2021 at 4:36PM in Food shopping & groceries 21 replies 1K views

jon81uk

Given that the co-op is effectivly owned by its shoppers (members) and Waitrose is owned by its staff (partners) that would be the closest to one that gives their profits to a good cause.

In general co-op and Waitrose probably sell themselves as being the most "ethical" with their products and Sainsbury's isn't too bad. But in terms of treatment of staff and pay I think few places pay or treat their staff excellantly.

LightKnow

If I messaged say the company and asked them sort what there vision or ethical ish ideal is . Would they email back ? Or you reckon they just go o delete lol or lie ?

🤷‍♂️ I know am asking very odd questions but sometimes you just gotta 

arnoldy

jon81uk said:

Given that the co-op is effectivly owned by its shoppers (members) and Waitrose is owned by its staff (partners) that would be the closest to one that gives their profits to a good cause.

In general co-op and Waitrose probably sell themselves as being the most "ethical" with their products and Sainsbury's isn't too bad. But in terms of treatment of staff and pay I think few places pay or treat their staff excellantly.

Problem is with these two - Co-op/Waitrose - is that the reality is often inversely proportional to the virtue signalling. I seen no data that says Co-op or Waitrose pay is better than, for example, Lidl. At the top Waitrose pay their CEO about £1m. Overall it does not excuse the way they have taken the money off the public purse - unlike the majority (not all) of their peer group.

jon81uk

LightKnow said:

If I messaged say the company and asked them sort what there vision or ethical ish ideal is . Would they email back ? Or you reckon they just go o delete lol or lie ?

🤷‍♂️ I know am asking very odd questions but sometimes you just gotta 

They will probably link back to information already available on their website. 

Co-Op https://www.coop.co.uk/sustainability/responsible-sourcing

Waitrose
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/about-us/our-farming

Sainsbury’s
https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/better-for-everyone/animal-welfare

can probably find similar pages for others if you want to

MysteryMe

I'm sure several supermarket chains have benefitted from some form of handout/incentive from central funds over the years.  Well done to the Co op for virtue signalling for well over 150 years...........

LightKnow

jon81uk said:

LightKnow said:

If I messaged say the company and asked them sort what there vision or ethical ish ideal is . Would they email back ? Or you reckon they just go o delete lol or lie ?

🤷‍♂️ I know am asking very odd questions but sometimes you just gotta 

They will probably link back to information already available on their website. 

Co-Op https://www.coop.co.uk/sustainability/responsible-sourcing

Waitrose
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/about-us/our-farming

Sainsbury’s
https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/better-for-everyone/animal-welfare

can probably find similar pages for others if you want to

Thanks, that probably good way start. I do search on others too

LightKnow

Why do quality of fruit or vegetables vary a fair amount amongst markets?


e.g.  I bought oranges , blueberries and strawberries from separate supermarket 

ones oranges was juciy and rich but other one felt like there were outdated or not looked after . Hard and weird dry taste

blueberries one place it taste like perfume and there decent size but other place they have sweet taste but looked weak or dulled 

same with strawberry one place there huge with flavour but other place it just normal size but has more juice to it

should they really vary like this ?

jon81uk

LightKnow said:

Why do quality of fruit or vegetables vary a fair amount amongst markets?


e.g.  I bought oranges , blueberries and strawberries from separate supermarket 

ones oranges was juciy and rich but other one felt like there were outdated or not looked after . Hard and weird dry taste

blueberries one place it taste like perfume and there decent size but other place they have sweet taste but looked weak or dulled 

same with strawberry one place there huge with flavour but other place it just normal size but has more juice to it

should they really vary like this ?

There a loads of factors that will determine what fresh fruit tastes like.
The variety - Braeburn apples are different to Cox,  for example but supermarkets don't often seperate varieties of other fruit just print on the pack which one it is.
Where it is grown - different regions produce different flavours, the soil type, water softness and stuff will make a difference. Also different varieties grow better/worse in different areas/countries.
How long since picking - flavour deteriates, but people want to eat somethings out of season so many are chilled and stored.
Stock control in the store, not damaging items and removing older stock from shelves at the right time.

For your strawberries it is likely the variety that determined the size/flavour. 
Oranges could be the time taken since picking or stock control.

LightKnow

jon81uk said:

LightKnow said:

Why do quality of fruit or vegetables vary a fair amount amongst markets?


e.g.  I bought oranges , blueberries and strawberries from separate supermarket 

ones oranges was juciy and rich but other one felt like there were outdated or not looked after . Hard and weird dry taste

blueberries one place it taste like perfume and there decent size but other place they have sweet taste but looked weak or dulled 

same with strawberry one place there huge with flavour but other place it just normal size but has more juice to it

should they really vary like this ?

There a loads of factors that will determine what fresh fruit tastes like.
The variety - Braeburn apples are different to Cox,  for example but supermarkets don't often seperate varieties of other fruit just print on the pack which one it is.
Where it is grown - different regions produce different flavours, the soil type, water softness and stuff will make a difference. Also different varieties grow better/worse in different areas/countries.
How long since picking - flavour deteriates, but people want to eat somethings out of season so many are chilled and stored.
Stock control in the store, not damaging items and removing older stock from shelves at the right time.

For your strawberries it is likely the variety that determined the size/flavour. 
Oranges could be the time taken since picking or stock control.

Thanks for the explanation. 

Here i was thinking of something abit more bizarre 😅

much appreciated for everyone’s help too 

MrsStepford

Re: fruit and veg, in my gap year, I graded fruit and veg when it arrived at a distribution centre, from Europe and also graded strawberries for M&S on a farm. I was taught that if anyone had a query about produce they were handling, there were different standards for each supermarket and I had to accept or reject, depending on the supermarket. What would pass for Tesco, wouldn't pass for Waitrose or M&S. 

Supermarkets may claim that their ordinary non Finest/Best fruit & veg is great, but I was dealing with the reality. 

I pay more for organic veg, but most of it is only Class 2, because the producers won't waste food because it has cosmetic blemishes. 

French supermarkets won't be allowed to waste food. I think that comes in in January. It's a French law, not an EU law.