Supermarkets in Shetland - prices, ethics and experiences

[crofter-amy]

Why not put an add in the classifieds and you might be surprised how much fresh local produce is available in your area

[Fjool]

the larger size packs ... work out cheaper.

I wouldn't be too certain of this. Watchdog this week were looking at this very thing and revealed that some larger packs actually cost more per kilo. People assume the larger packs are a better deal, but this is not always true.

 

To be sure, one has look at the £/Kg price, rather than the pack size.

[tom thumb]

as i have said before i work for tesco, and i am one of the drivers of the van and yes it is true the delivery van has a problem with the chiller and no it still has not been fixed.

if the items you are after do not need to be chilled i.e .tins of beans cornflakes etc. then i would suggest you ask if they could deliver them to you. i am not saying they will as there may be some legal or health and saftey reason why they can not

give tesco a phone you never know

[shetlandpeat]

Could you not ask Mainlands to get them in for you?

 

But as Fjool said, watch the prices on those larger packs.

 

How far do Tesco deliver?

 

But if there are a few of you in a community, start a co-op, swap stuff and barter.

 

Tom, be careful about posting about your employer, you should really seek advice, you could breach your contract, some larger and national firms have strict policies. I just had to do that sorta stuff for my radio show.

[daveh]

Supermarkets give us food at prices which are unfair to the producers. They fool folk into thinking they are getting good buys but really most of what I see in there is unhealthy junk. I would rather have food that's good than cheap.

 

You are obviously looking in the wrong sections.

Tesco have loads of fresh ingredients, should you wish to purchase them, with which you can prepare meals from scratch. Not everyone wants to do that, though, so that is down to choice. In fact, all the local shops also sell ready meals should you wish to buy them so you can level, although unfairly, your criticism towards them as well.

You make too much of a sweeping generalisation and I don't accept it as being correct.

[crofter-amy]

I am aware there are fresh products and lots of them in there, but my point on them is that the producer of these products seldom gets a decent price for his product. The quality is often dissapointing.If you want a fresh bit of meat the supermarket will sell you what apears to be a bargain but after it's cooked it seems to shrink in a way propper meat should not. The veg also seems tasteless when compared to local produce.

[daveh]

I grow virtually all of my veggies so that is no problem for me but I accept that others don't. The veggies available to buy in the local shops may be local but there is often not a very wide choice, they may not be the freshest and they may also be a lot more expensive; the latter point being important if on a tight budget.

I also agree that locally-produced meat is good in flavour but can be expensive to buy. Some of the meat available from the Scalloway Meat company is positively exorbitantly-priced, for instance. If it was closer to the supermarket prices then that would be more attainable for the masses but, at the end of the day, folks are on tight budgets these days and they have to ensure that their money goes as far as it can when it comes to buying food. If you have to feed a family, you may well not be able to afford to choose local over brought in or organic over non-organic. You look for value first and then perhaps quality within your budget. That is the way it is.

[unlinkedstudent]

I am aware there are fresh products and lots of them in there, but my point on them is that the producer of these products seldom gets a decent price for his product. The quality is often dissapointing.If you want a fresh bit of meat the supermarket will sell you what apears to be a bargain but after it's cooked it seems to shrink in a way propper meat should not. The veg also seems tasteless when compared to local produce.

 

Tesco do sell local veg - my biggest gripe re the South Mainlands spuds is that at least 1kg must be blooming soil. The same spuds are sold in the local shop. Now call me fussy if you will, but why should I pay for soil? I don't buy them - I might be if they didn't contain so much blooming soil and instead, buy the Maris Piper (washed) ones.

[crofter-amy]

Tesco do sell local veg - my biggest gripe re the South Mainlands spuds is that at least 1kg must be blooming soil. The same spuds are sold in the local shop. Now call me fussy if you will, but why should I pay for soil? I don't buy them - I might be if they didn't contain so much blooming soil and instead, buy the Maris Piper (washed) ones.

 

Tatties store better unwashed

[crofter-amy]

I grow virtually all of my veggies so that is no problem for me but I accept that others don't. The veggies available to buy in the local shops may be local but there is often not a very wide choice, they may not be the freshest and they may also be a lot more expensive; the latter point being important if on a tight budget.

I also agree that locally-produced meat is good in flavour but can be expensive to buy. Some of the meat available from the Scalloway Meat company is positively exorbitantly-priced, for instance. If it was closer to the supermarket prices then that would be more attainable for the masses but, at the end of the day, folks are on tight budgets these days and they have to ensure that their money goes as far as it can when it comes to buying food. If you have to feed a family, you may well not be able to afford to choose local over brought in or organic over non-organic. You look for value first and then perhaps quality within your budget. That is the way it is.

 

You use a lot of 'may be' there.

 

Less choice would be something to do with seasonality. Something the supermarket has done away with at huge cost to the environment.

 

And as I already mentioned the supermarket meat will shrink a lot when cooked. The value should really be compared after the meats are cooked.

[khitajrah]

Tesco do sell local veg - my biggest gripe re the South Mainlands spuds is that at least 1kg must be blooming soil. The same spuds are sold in the local shop. Now call me fussy if you will, but why should I pay for soil? I don't buy them - I might be if they didn't contain so much blooming soil and instead, buy the Maris Piper (washed) ones.

 

Tatties store better unwashed

 

And they are so tasty! I'm gutted when I go to the supermarket and they are out of the Mainlands tatties. They are my favourite by far - they make the best buttery mash.

[unlinkedstudent]

^^ x 2

 

Store better unwashed? Only buy one bag and they are fine for 2 weeks and usually used up within that time period.

 

We bought Mainlands' spuds when we first moved up on about 3 occasions. Perhaps we were just unlucky but I've never had to knife out so many bits.

 

There again, after living in Lincolnshire as a teenager, may be I got used to yellow belly spuds!

 

I'm prepared to give them another whirl just on the offchance we got 3 bad batches as I do try to support local suppliers - I'm well gutted Hunters are stopping the fish van btw.

[khitajrah]

Keep them in the dark. I rarely have a bag go bad on me, but I keep them out of the light. If a bag goes off I usually have had them for months. I really do love them - I didn't think I could have a favourite potato, but they certainly are!

[DizzyKipper]

as i have said before i work for tesco, and i am one of the drivers of the van

 

Damn I forgot to say how nice the drivers are

 

 

(it's true though)

[tom thumb]

Tom, be careful about posting about your employer, you should really seek advice, you could breach your contract, some larger and national firms have strict policies. I just had to do that sorta stuff for my radio show.

 

thankyou for the advice, ahead of you on that one