Lidl goes posh.

[pogofish]

If you live out in the sticks and only have one shop nearby then either shut up or move to somewhere that isn't in the middle of fucking nowhere.

Have you any idea what the gap between earnings & property prices/rents can be like in some rural areas? Many folk in the sticks don't have any choice about moving, they simply can't aford it! Also, you don't have to live far-out to suffer from a dearth of local shops. I'm on the edge of a fair sized city & it is still not much better, even before the largest Asda in the UK was plonked down beside me. 5mins extra to a Lidl that serves what is still a distinctive & independant part of that city, gets largely local custom, has plenty of hassle-free parking (although I usually go there on 2-wheels, except when I get the heavy stuff) & a highly individual staff who go out of their way to to do a good job, is something I'm happy to put up with.

 

[_angel_]

I wish there was a greengrocer around here. Lots of corner shops tho' which I definitely frequent. Works out a bit too expensive/ impractical for a full weeks shop tho'. Would probably die of scurvy if I had to rely on them all the time!

 

[DrRingDing]

at Geri

Yea, it sucks to be fair.

 

[_angel_]

Have you any idea what the gap between earnings & property prices/rents can be like in some rural areas? Many folk in the sticks don't have any choice about moving, they simply can't aford it! Also, you don't have to live far-out to suffer from a dearth of local shops. I'm on the edge of a fair sized city & it is still not much better, even before the largest Asda in the UK was plonked down beside me.

S'not just rural areas it's practically everywhere. Leeds is very divided between outrageously expensive areas where normal families are being fast priced out, and big council estate areas. It's getting worse.

 

[Roadkill]

Also, you don't have to live far-out to suffer from a dearth of local shops. I'm on the edge of a fair sized city & it is still not much better, even before the largest Asda in the UK was plonked down beside me.

This is absolutely true.

It seems to me that viable clusters of independent shops - as in, streets with a butcher, baker, greengrocer, general store - seem to fall into two categories.

a) Clusters of high-priced, wholefood sort of shops for the Guardian-reading set. All very worthy, but generally in posh areas and out of most people's price range anyway.

b) Streets in less affluent areas of large cities, frequently with a high proportion of second-hand and charity shops, which often indicates an area the big chains don't really consider it worth their while moving into.

Newland Ave in Hull, where I shop, definitely falls into that second category. Before Lidl moved in the nearest supermarket was a mile away, and it serves a catchment area composed mainly of working class families and students, many of whom don't have cars and value having cheap shops on the doorstep. IMO a great little shopping street even now - and it's certainly not as good as it used to be.

 

[pogofish]

It's getting worse.

Indeed, except in cities, you usually have a chance of getting somewhere else. Move here & you need to go a very long way (& usually further-out of town) before you find somewhere else.

 

[_angel_]

Indeed, except in cities, you usually have a chance of getting somewhere else. Move here & you need to go a very long way (& usually further-out of town) before you find somewhere else.

Indeed I could exchange one shit tip estate for another (like I did last year!)


To be fair it's slightly better here than t'other side of Bramley which was in the words of Mozzer 'in the arse of the world'

 

[pinkmonkey]

This is absolutely true.

It seems to me that viable clusters of independent shops - as in, streets with a butcher, baker, greengrocer, general store - seem to fall into two categories.

a) Clusters of high-priced, wholefood sort of shops for the Guardian-reading set. All very worthy, but generally in posh areas and out of most people's price range anyway.

b) Streets in less affluent areas of large cities, frequently with a high proportion of second-hand and charity shops, which often indicates an area the big chains don't really consider it worth their while moving into.

Newland Ave in Hull, where I shop, definitely falls into that second category. Before Lidl moved in the nearest supermarket was a mile away, and it serves a catchment area composed mainly of working class families and students, many of whom don't have cars and value having cheap shops on the doorstep. IMO a great little shopping street even now - and it's certainly not as good as it used to be.

I have to admit - avoiding supermarkets is very easy in London, particularly if you live in an immigrant area. We are spoilt for choice with super cheap independant Turkish, Cypriot and Indian Grocers and supermarkets, some of which are starting to rival the chains in size and choice (but without the poor quality and rip-off prices).

BUT if you live outside of London, your town doesn't have a market, you work long hours, then I agree, it's pretty feckin' impossible.

 

[trashpony]

There are no 'independent wholefood shops' round here. And that's Kilburn. My independent shops stock no organic food, no decent meat and not a lot of choice in the world of fruit and veg.

Not very realistic Poet.

 

[Roadkill]

I have to admit - avoiding supermarkets is very easy in London, particularly if you live in an immigrant area. We are spoilt for choice with super cheap independant Turkish, Cypriot and Indian Grocers and supermarkets, some of which are starting to rival the chains in size and choice (but without the poor quality and rip-off prices).

BUT if you live outside of London, your town doesn't have a market, you work long hours, then I agree, it's pretty feckin' impossible.

I'd modify that slightly to say, 'if you live outside a big city,' because much of what you say there is IME true of areas of many large cities. That's one reason I prefer living in cities to smaller places.

One encouraging development I've noticed in Hull over the last few years is that immigrant communities are establishing their own businesses and helping to revitalise independent shops in some areas. A few years ago, Spring Bank was a scruffy, run-down food desert with one or two tired cornershops and a Jackson's (now owned by Shitesbury's) convenience store. On the bus down there this morning, I counted five independent general food shops, a few other more specialist shops (such as Halal butchers) and a plethora of cafes, aimed partly at the Asian and East European communities which have grown up in the area over the last few years. Spring Bank is still scruffy and still a bit rough, but ecoonomically and in terms of the diversity and number of shops it's much better than it used to be.

 

[_angel_]

I'd modify that slightly to say, 'if you live outside a big city,' because much of what you say there is IME true of areas of many large cities. That's one reason I prefer living in cities to smaller places.

One encouraging development I've noticed in Hull over the last few years is that immigrant communities are establishing their own businesses and helping to revitalise independent shops in some areas. A few years ago, Spring Bank was a scruffy, run-down food desert with one or two tired cornershops and a Jackson's (now owned by Shitesbury's) convenience store. On the bus down there this morning, I counted five independent general food shops, a few other more specialist shops (such as Halal butchers) and a plethora of cafes, aimed partly at the Asian and East European communities which have grown up in the area over the last few years. Spring Bank is still scruffy and still a bit rough, but ecoonomically and in terms of the diversity and number of shops it's much better than it used to be.

This is true of Harehills in Leeds, there's umpteen greengrocers there, despite having a gigantic Tesco's on its doorstep. Sadly I live nowhere near Harehills..

 

[guinnessdrinker]

Do what the fuck you like. If you couldn't give a monkeys about workers welfare, shop at the chains. If you do, shop at wholefood places and suchlike. If you live out in the sticks and only have one shop nearby then either shut up or move to somewhere that isn't in the middle of fucking nowhere. Jesus, you do have a choice as to where you live you know, you haven't been allocated to an area by the bureau.

in theory, yes, but it's not as simple as that....

 

[Ms T]

Well I'm an enthusiastic supporter of my butcher, baker and candlestick maker so I don't feel too guilty about my occasional forays to Lidl.

Back on topic... I went to Lidl this afternoon and I bought frozen duck breasts, a frozen lobster (very excited about that one), and some frozen, diced venison.
They also had geese for a tenner, ducks for a fiver and wild salmon.

 

[trashpony]

Back on topic... I went to Lidl this afternoon and I bought frozen duck breasts, a frozen lobster (very excited about that one), and some frozen, diced venison.

At the risk of this turning into a 'I went to Lidl and I bought something beginning with A, B, etc; I went this morning and bought some smoked salmon, some Navarra (cheers to whoever recommended that ), avocados, vodka, a panettone, parmeggiano reggiano and some really lovely cyclamen - £1.75 each - bargain! Oh - and a poker set

 

[hipipol]

Oops Suzee Blue Cheese posting as Hipipol again:

REALLY?? Shopping at supermarkets is worse than shopping in small independent shops? Gee, thanks for telling me, I'll be sure to source my opera glasses and humidors locally in the future.

LOL @ Enid

Why not read the thread before you go making bollocks assumptions about people based on their shopping habits?

Hey Roadkill why not read the thread before you go making bollocks assumptions about people based on their thread about where to buy opera glasses and humidors


Anyway, back to the fray: We don't buy much from Lidl, the market is nearer for fruit and veg for example. Which is not to say I didn't buy some veg at Lidl when they were running their 1/2 price promotion, largely because I was too late for the market.

There's a lot of tat in Lidl but if you shop carefully you can get some quality stuff. The Dolc*** ham for example, no added water. The plain bio yoghurts are creamy, lush and just happen to be @ 20p each. The unbranded butter is excellent too. Apart from that we buy tins of mackeral, sardines, kidney beans, butter beans and tomatoes. The Navarra (it was me who recommended it) is surprisingly good for the price, oh and the 74% dark chocolate..... Their chocolate is tops, continental quality and therefore REAL not that veg fat shite.

Think it should be pointed out that Lidl of all the supermarkets tend to be High St operations as opposed to out of town hypermarkets which do destroy town centres. An organic fruit & veg outfit have set up near to our local store which we wouldn't have noticed had we not been up that way to get our yogs and stuff. So in a small way, it's helped local business. Perverse..

 

[Floh]

Do what the fuck you like. If you couldn't give a monkeys about workers welfare, shop at the chains. If you do, shop at wholefood places and suchlike. If you live out in the sticks and only have one shop nearby then either shut up or move to somewhere that isn't in the middle of fucking nowhere. Jesus, you do have a choice as to where you live you know, you haven't been allocated to an area by the bureau.

Quite possibly the least-profound post i ever saw.

goodnight sweetheart.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I bet he's one of those pot-noodle eating revolutionaries anyway...

 

[suzee blue cheese]

*Watches blue touch paper burning and stands well back*

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Haha! I'll miss it all...I'm working pretty solidly till Christmas...just felt somewhat cynical after hellish journey earlier across London after work to get to shops in Brixton in time to buy fresh ingredients to cook requested dinner for the youngest Magpie's 16th birthday. If Lidl had got what I needed then Lidl it would have been. My son has never much cared for opera glasses though. Give him terrible constipation.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Well I'm an enthusiastic supporter of my butcher, baker and candlestick maker so I don't feel too guilty about my occasional forays to Lidl.

Back on topic... I went to Lidl this afternoon and I bought frozen duck breasts, a frozen lobster (very excited about that one), and some frozen, diced venison.
They also had geese for a tenner, ducks for a fiver and wild salmon.

The venison is lovely stewed/casseroled or in a pie or pasty, but I didn't think much of the recipe on the packaging. Way too much onion, considering that the meat has such a nice flavour!

 

[Funky_monks]

Do what the fuck you like. If you couldn't give a monkeys about workers welfare, shop at the chains. If you do, shop at wholefood places and suchlike. If you live out in the sticks and only have one shop nearby then either shut up or move to somewhere that isn't in the middle of fucking nowhere. Jesus, you do have a choice as to where you live you know, you haven't been allocated to an area by the bureau.

You townie bastards really dont have a clue do you?

 

[suzee blue cheese]

You townie bastards really dont have a clue do you?

Oi! Some of us townie bastards haven't lived here all our lives

 

[Roadkill]

Hey Roadkill why not read the thread before you go making bollocks assumptions about people based on their thread about where to buy opera glasses and humidors

That was aimed at revol68, not Enid! I don't remember Enid going on about 'moralising supporters of the petit bourgeoisie.'

Anyway, I shall be going to Kwik Save this afternoon. Cheap teabags and tinned tomatoes. Anyone surprised? If so, you need to read things more carefully. I've never, ever claimed it's easy, or even possible, for most working people to boycott supermarkets altogether; merely that it's a good idea to do so when you can. Therefore, I'll get my cheap tins from the supermarket and my fresh stuff, spices and so on from the indpendents, where they're cheaper. That's my 'happy medium' between avoiding supermarket chains and feeding myself on a tight budget - it's up to other people to find theirs.

 

[pogofish]

Alternatively, you could go Freegan!

http://freegan.info/

 

[toggle]

That was aimed at revol68, not Enid! I don't remember Enid going on about 'moralising supporters of the petit bourgeoisie.'

Anyway, I shall be going to Kwik Save this afternoon. Cheap teabags and tinned tomatoes. Anyone surprised? If so, you need to read things more carefully. I've never, ever claimed it's easy, or even possible, for most working people to boycott supermarkets altogether; merely that it's a good idea to do so when you can. Therefore, I'll get my cheap tins from the supermarket and my fresh stuff, spices and so on from the indpendents, where they're cheaper. That's my 'happy medium' between avoiding supermarket chains and feeding myself on a tight budget - it's up to other people to find theirs.

That's about what i do. I'm sure the supermarket are delighted ith the huge profits they make selling me tinned tomatoes

 

[Roadkill]

That's about what i do. I'm sure the supermarket are delighted ith the huge profits they make selling me tinned tomatoes

My guess is that the mark-up on thing like tinned tomatoes is miniscule. They're a Known Value Item (KVI), which supermarkets sell at an artificially low price to make themselves look cheap. Cheap bread, baked beans and teabags and the like are much the same. Once they've got you in, they can sell you things you buy less often, and have less knowledge of the usual price for, at a much greater mark-up. IIRC, a large supermarket might have up to a hundred lines being sold as loss-leaders or at little profit at any one time.

Compare the price of things you buy often and the supermarket will always be cheaper: compare prices of things you don't buy as often, especially fresh produce, and the difference is invariably much less. For spices, sauces, even certain tins and types of rice, my local Asian food shop isn't much more expensive than the chains and sometimes cheaper. Lidl's range of products is pathetically narrow anyway: if I went in the one down the road from me asking for harissa or even chick peas I'd come away disappointed.

Didn't Tesco's make themselves unpopular a few years back when they threw a bloke who only ever bought loss-leaders out of one of their stores?

 

[Rohen]

I bought Lobster in Lidl yesterday for a fiver each...

I picked up eight sad man that I am and yes I have space for them ( but not much else now)

And I saw the cigar accessories and thought mmm I was tempted to buy the hip flask and cigar holder for 4.99 but I thought I dont drink, or smoke what the hell will I do with it?


But then I went into Comet for some printer paper and ended up buying a SKY package and the Sky card came today and they are installing the dish on saturday.....

Ive succumbed to Rupert Murdoch...


Also there is a TFC round the corner but I wanted to try out online shopping so I had ocado deliver this morning.

 

[Louloubelle]

http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20051205.p.Humidor_with_Accessories

£29.99

a plastic fake wood humidor

do they do silver plated after eight mint holders too?