Organic supermarkets (Fresh and Wild - Soho London)

[easy g]

I should be starting work for one in Bristol soon...

 

[moose]

I went in not long after visiting the wonderful Unicorn in Manchester & could not believe the difference in the price of simple fruit & veg.

Good lord, I think Unicorn is expensive (doesn't stop e shopping there, though)! I hate to think what F&W is like, then.

 

[nino_savatte]

I think that's Fresh and Wild but, living in Wales, I only get to go there when I'm in London for work reasons

Now I remember, it used to be called Clearspring.

Bummer.

 

[bristol_citizen]

Warning for for anyone who shops at Fresh and Wild – read the labels very carefully. As a result of a change in their buying policy they are stocking more and more “conventional” (i.e. NON-organic) produce.

For those who don't know, F&W was bought out a few months ago by a big American wholefoods outfit – presumably they're now under pressure to deliver higher returns.

One reason the manager cited was that they've just taken on a massive new branch in Kensington and they need to have enough products to fill it, which they can't solely from organic produce! But “we are still really committed to sustainably and locally produced lines” - yeah right.

Another reason is “in order to give our customers more choice”.

This policy now mean that you have the opportunity to buy “conventional” blueberries from Chile in October. You can also choose conventional wines from amongst the organic ones. Etc etc

Have you got a source for this?

 

[Wolfie]

I know that Fresh and Wild have been taken over by Whole Foods Market - http://www.organicmonitor.com/r2601.htm - if the take over has had the effect that underdog describes I don't know.

There was a programme on Radio 4 the other night with a big item on Whole Foods Market and they sounded very very american in their approach - all employees are referred to as "team members" and managers as "team leaders" - set my teeth on edge rather ...

 

[Wolfie]

this quote made me smile ...

The company expects to initially employ 400 to 500 Team Members at the Whole Foods Market location in London. Cooking demonstrations, product samplings and in-house eateries will mingle with thousands of the freshest and finest natural and organic offerings in every area of the store, with a focus on procuring foods from local growers, food artisans and manufacturers. And, just as the company has done with its North American locations for the past 25 years, Whole Foods Market will actively become an integral part of the community by sponsoring events, donating food and money to local causes, providing volunteer opportunities for Team Members, and becoming a neighborhood gathering place.

they're talking about a store on Kensignton High Street ffs! "a neighbourhood gathering place" , "donating food and money to local causes"

 

[Bernie Gunther]

There's huge and growing demand for organic food in the UK. See e.g.

http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/librarytitles/1B316.html

and

http://www.organicfood.co.uk/sense/whosorganic.html

So it's no surprise that cynical cash-in's by big US chains are occurring.

 

[hektik]

there is a new place that has opened up in NW london called "that organic place.."

ignoring the friends-a-like naming, its a pretty good shop.

Its on mill lane, west hampstead.....

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Oddly enough, I was just going on about sustainable food over on a (typically ill-natured) thread in WP.

Link for anyone who is interested.