Waitrose to start talks with local producers
Saturday 26th June 2010, 2:29PM BST.
WAITROSE is to begin talks with local growers in the autumn aimed at putting local produce in its new island stores and, possibly, in its stores across the UK.
The company’s local and regional produce manager Graham Cassie said: ‘It is early days, but it will happen in the near future.
‘We will have a “meet the business” event, so people can see how we work, and we can then meet with suppliers and see what is available. It will help us to understand what makes those products special.’
He said it was possible popular local products could end up across the country.
‘We have many small producers that start in one store, and then go on to supply all 229 branches,’ he said.
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Just did my shopping at Checkers today;
Blackberries – Spain
Strawberries – Kent
Onions – New Zealand
Blueberries – Spain
Potato’s – Guernsey (hurrah!)
Peppers and tomato’s – Jersey (meh, better than Spain)
Granted, some of these things are out of season to grow locally but it was still a bit of a hunt to try and find local produce.
Glad to see Waitrose are listening/paying attention though. Not sure we would get this from Tesco’s…
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lynnie,
should have gone to the co-op
rasberries, strawberries, blackberries,cabbage,greens,spring onions,potatoes,cucmbers,tomatoes(loose and prepack),cauli,leeks,fresh herbs,spinach all local there are probably even more local products at the co-op I even hear they might be doing local blueberries and grapes.
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Ask ANY local farmer, and they will tell you that all supermarkets, including the Co op and Waitrose, do indeed use ‘local’ producers, but not before screwing them down to the lowest possible price, then reducing that further (as and when the mood takes them) when they want to put on a special offer.
They end up doing what is a damned hard (very essential) job for next to nothing, the reduced profits can put a serious dent in their ability to reinvest in their business and actually earn a living, and generally does nothing for them OR the continuity of the industry…
ironically, the Fairtrade farmers in far flung parts of the world are probably more protected from this sort of exploitation.
If something is ‘cheap’, whether it’s produce, meat, clothing, or whatever, you can bet that it’s because someone/thing further up the chain paid dearly for it, with poorly paid labor and/or awful working/living conditions.
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Kevin – I would do but I have seen too many things in the co-op that I can’t forgive. Out of date milk on the shleves, managers having a full on chin wag about what they did last night blocking the aisles, dirty surroundings. It was just too much to take. If co-op invested into their customer service and raised store standards I would be there in a shot.
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lynnie
i used to think you talked sense. If your holding checkers up as an example of a great superstore why are they relatively unsuccessful? If the co-op had the store at Admiral Park I quarantee they would be taking a lot more money than Checkers are now
end of!
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Lynnie. I’ve been a dedicated and constant fan of the Co op, their great range of foodstuffs, and friendly staff, over many years.
Sorry, but I have NEVER experienced the supermarket ‘ghetto/NHS hospital’ style conditions you speak of, and think you must have just visited one store, once, and on a very bad day…!
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lynnie,
on reflection do you know what I can’t forgive?
filthy pubs,untrained,unqualified managers\landlords,untrained,ununiformed staff,managers and staff smoking outside in view of the public.drunks all around,disgusting toilets,mega expensive drinks(stella,grolsch,becks £1.99 a pint in u.k buy two get one free) in guernsey £2.50-£3.00 per pint. 700% mark up on spirits, soft drinks 800% mark up. Expensive bar lunches, crisps twice the price of a supermarket e.t.c. need I go on? It’s easy to take pot shots but the supermarkets in Guernsey are providing a much better service than most businesses in the island in whatever industry.On this website we’ve seen a lot of critisism of retail but are any of you out there doing any better in your own business or job? the only reason you lot can criticise so much is that the people in charge of our supermarkets will allow fraud,theft,intimidation,verbal abuse, physical abuse, antisocial behavour,rudeness,vandalism,sarcasm,slander,racism and rowdiness by the customers as long as you keep spending with them. All of the above happen down at your local supermarket in Guernsey all in the name of consumerism. Have a good look at your own performance at work where ever you work is it really that good? We are all consumers of many different goods and services not just the shoppers at supermarkets.lots of issues are out of our control give us a break.
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Oh dear!
Whilst I admire your loyalty Kevin I am entitled to have my own opinion of the co-op.
To answer your question Scarlett, yes I have been to the co-op more than once. I’m not by any means holding Checkers up like the golden grail of supermarkets. It has its fault as I stated in my first post. My comment was directed to the statement of “should have gone to the co-op..” which I thought I answered. I may have gone on a bad day…several times but why should that be an excuse?
Kevin, I’m not sure what you’re getting at with the pub reference. I can only assume you think I work in the pub trade. I don’t. I used to work in the pub trade in the UK. I’m not by any means saying what you are suggesting. In fact I agree that they are overpriced. Perhaps you shouldn’t let your emotions overrun your posts.
As a teenager and student I worked in quite a few service industry jobs so I do know the flack you get from customers Kevin. However, ALL retailers should be striving to improve their standards. I don’t think there can be one store out there that says “yep, we’ve done all we can we’re as good as can be”. Rubbish.
You should look at criticism as being a positive thing.
Maybe unforgiveable was a bit harsh. I am willing to forgive but as I originally stated standards need to improve. I’ll pop in every now and then :)
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lynnie
I was using the pub trade as an example of another industry where improvements are certainly needed but you don’t see people offering criticism all day every day. perhaps you should say All Workers everywhere (even you) should be striving to improve their standards.
Criricism can be positive when it is based on fact not fiction.
One last point,I don’t think there can be one worker anywhere who can say”I’ve done all I can I’m as good as I can be.” Rubbish.
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I have mearly stated as a preference that I choose not to shop at the co-op due to standards I’ve seen. I have not made these things up. What exactly would I have to gain from doing that?
I’m also quite stunned that the St Martins co-op manager would come on here(a potential customer) and acuse me of making things up rather than take stock of what’s being said. If that’s the way you treat and speak back to your customers I’m not suprised you get the flack you do.
I realise you’re passionate about your job and want to defend your store. I work in a commercial company (I tend to stay away from the stories about them on the GP as I have a conflict of interest)and I can assure you every day is about improving standards. I’m sure that’s the case for most businesses. We receive complaints (as does most service providers/industry) I can assure you that these are treated with the upmost respect and investigated accordingly rather than dismissed and chucked in the bin as it’s not something we want to hear.
If co-op standards improved I would most likely come back.
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lynnie
are you saying I’m not entitled to my opinion too?
Your posts are assuming a great deal you might just end up with egg on your face.
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Nothing wrong at all with the Bridge Co-Op and every now and then you get to spot Dave Jones doing his shopping!
What cheers me up most of all is sitting in the car park watching all the little old ladies ( and the occasional flat capped gent ) trying to park in the tight spaces
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lynnie,
I’m also a potential customer of yours or have you forgotten that?
I’ll also let the other many contributors to this site decide if your attenpts to identify where I work (right or wrong) for whatever reason you may have, are justified.
Further how dare you suggest that any organization anywhere treat customer complaints with comtempt.The co-op is the most successful retailer in the channel islands …fact, if it was as bad as you suggest( nobody on this site has supported your opinion that co-ops’ are filthy) It would not be the most successful retailer in the channel islands. Lynnie I quote you. “I tend to stay away from stories about them (your employer) on the G.P. as I have a conflict of interest)talk about double standards! if a customer makes a complaint anywhere whether that is your company, Le Riche,Marks and Spencer,Checkers,Co-op,Creasey’s Alliance,Forest Stores or anywhere else they should be able to back that complaint up with facts. If the facts support the complaint believe me any company would bend over backwords to keep the customer happy that is a “given” In the U.S A. naming a company as having filthy stores without proof equal to a defination of “filthy ” could result in litigation against that person. Unfortunately here anything goes. So Lynnie who ever I am I would suggest I’m Just about as good at doing my job as you are at doing your job. Let’s leave it at that.
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Kevin – what am I assuming?
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Ignore my last post Kevin this will be my last one on the matter, I don’t want this going on forever and we’ve gone off topic.
I never said filthy. I’m also not looking for people to back me up. The points I mentioned though, I have noticed and that’s the reason why I choose not to shop there. I’m not saying that the co-op are the worse retailer on the island, I’m not saying that every other business is better than them. You are putting words into my mouth Kevin. Your posts are emotionally charged and as you are discussing your employer you have an obligation to represent your company. If that is the way I am spoken to then I will take my business elsewhere.
I have no idea if you are a potential customer or not of the company where I work. However, if you did want to complain about the services we offer then I can assure you that your complaint would be heard with the utmost respect and attention it deserves. I am not personally attacking you Kevin, or your employer. If I had put an official complaint in would this be the way you would answer it? I would expect a standard “thank you for your observations. I can assure you that this is not the normal standards we strive for at the co-op and this matter will be fully investigated” not brushed aside and I quote you
“Criricism can be positive when it is based on fact not fiction”
Whatever happened to the customer is always right?
Are you insinuating that I have fabricated my original post? All I can do is assure you that I haven’t. I haven’t got any reason to lie and why would I? The headline of this topic wasn’t even to do with the co-op. However, I notice you are trying to get a rise from me on other threads which I’m not entertaining as quite frankly it’s petty.
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@Kevin/Lynnie
from your posts are we to assume you have both worked for the same establishments in the past ?
In which case I also have worked for both companies, both are very much the same, basically what the customers see is not always a good indication.
@Kevin, I think you used to work later hours than most people at your old employment , this is the shift I also used to do although you and I have never worked together.
@Lynnie, I am unaware of working with you but it is possible ..
@Both ….. I and many others are “potential customers” and therefore keeping you in jobs, might be best not to slag each others establishments off, Both Checkers and Co-op have had some very poor quality fresh food on the shelves in the past few days, but its up to the customers to decide if they wish to buy it, if they dont then its up to the same customers to report the matter to the staff.
“healthy” competition is good , mud slinging isnt
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Aw dad but he started it!
:)
No. Point taken Paul. It is all rather annoying to read and I apologise. I don’t work for Checkers, Co-Op or any other food retailer for that matter though. My observations were purely as a customer at the time.
Back to my original post it would be great if Waitrose did make the effort to stock local produce, however, I think it’s a bit enthusiastic to think Guernsey is capeable of providing they’re other 229 stores or that they have the abilities and machinary to ensure it passes they’re quality control tests.
I’ll stand by another post on another thread and say there’s nowt wrong with a bit of nobbily veg. Would rather have that than the stuff that’s packed full of god knows what.
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@Lynnie
I do sound like my dad LOL, I stand by your comment about local produce totally, I tend to use hedge veg myself as that way the person who has had the trouble growing it has all the profit.
The idea of W/R supplying all the UK , likewsie I agree, but the idea of going back to the “good old days” sounds great.
Btw, am not an old fuddy duddy, just in case anyone wonders, am a spripthly 47 year old LOL
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People of Guernsey people we have no connention to the John Lewis group but you can look forward to your new Waitrose Supermarkets if our experience is anything to go by. We live in West Sussex and we have an M&S and a ‘taste no difference’ Sainsburys on our doorstep but we drive a 30 mile round trip to our local Waitrose where we can find fresh local produce from Kent,Hants and the Isle of Wight including meat, vegetables and fruit (no bananas yet), often with the producers name and photograph on the labeling. We also believe (as far as you can) that Waitrose have a truly ethical element to all provider/producers local and worldwide. Also I am glad to say we can buy true Guernsey Butter which is really good (as if you need telling) and not the so called Channel Island butter produced in Devon which is just not the same? There is also the fact that that as all the staff are partners within the company and they are treated in the John Lewis style notwithstanding the annual bonus they all receive – no shareholders here.
However It is sometimes said that Waitrose are not as cheap as other supermarkets, maybe so, but if thats is the case, why do we see so many pensioners shoping at their stores? maybe its because they know quality plus lots of choice.
As frequent visitors (winter and summer) to Guernsey (and Herm) we will be looking forward to seeing the new Waitrose stores and returning to all our favourite places.
Brian and Cheryl Cuzner
PS Look up ‘Waitrose Weekend’ on the web – its a good read.
PPS – Guernsey Dairy, re Guernsey Butter, how about a spreadable version ? It could sell very well here on the mainland.
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@Brian and Cheryl
Thank you ! Good to see a very sensible and usuable comment and thank you for the Waitrose weekend tip.
I personally will print out your comment and post that to Guernsey Dairy , they probably have tried or at least , thought of it but the sales potential is great
Once again a warm thanks
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Perhaps slightly off the subject but does anyone know why they are selling some rip-off imitation Guernsey fudge at the airport with a Guernsey flag on the box? I was absolutely gutted when I bought some back to London and realised it comes from the mainland anyway!!
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LMAO @ LP…surely not? Not good old Guernsey having rip off products!
Maybe the airport shop needs to be informed of this counterfeit product!
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I remember the banner in Checkers – “if it was any more local we’d have to grow it in store”.
Great, I thought – Guernsey produce then.
No, in fact close checking on the shelves revealed that apart from some mushrooms and herbs the majority of the “local” produce was from Jersey.
The banners disappeared after a while…
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Lynnie
this is my very last post on this subject
lets face it you don’t know who I work for.Your obssesion with trying to bring whoever might be my employer into this is a pathetically veiled threat to me which I think posters on this sight have seen through. you said the co-op was dirty you can’t back that up.
you said the customer is always right. The Pope gave up his right to infalability and maybe,just maybe you should too, so no the customer cannot be always right.
I do concede though that the customer is ALWAYS THE CUSTOMER and must be treated as such.May I assure you that I and Indeed the company I work for treat all complaints seriously and they are always investigated. Further Lynnie if you would like to inspect the local produce available in guernsey which my company sells please contact me on 07781112066 where I can show you around at a time convenient to you.
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Paul,
thanks for the compliment and proposed letter to Guernsey Dairy. I emailed them some time in past suggesting the same and did not even get a reply, or acknowledgement from them – ho-hum. One more suggestion re John Lewis to all readers. If you are about to make a purchase from any retailer and your not really sure as to what you it is you should be buying e.g. a digital camera, log into the John Lewis website, select Electricals, and then Digital Photography, and then the ‘Buying Guide’ at the bottom of the page, all will be revealed. Television page is also worth a look. I am done, over and out.
Brian
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Hi Kevin
I googled your name from your first post. i assume you are the same person as the gravitar has not changed in any of your posts therefore you must be using the same email address. From my google result it shows who your employer is and I’m guessing that does re-affirm Lynnie’s suspicions.
I guess it could be out of date but must have been true at some point.
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