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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Lizzie_Zoom on 22 September 2014, 20:06:27

Title: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 22 September 2014, 20:06:27
..........when you overstate your profit forecast by £250 million.......Every Little Helps!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer supermarket chain! ;D >:( ;D
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: TheBoy on 22 September 2014, 20:11:49
..........when you overstate your profit forecast by £250 million.......Every Little Helps!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer supermarket chain! ;D >:( ;D
Country's favourite supermarket in 2014 ;), which surpised me, I thought it'd be one of the pikey ones...
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 22 September 2014, 20:33:35
..........when you overstate your profit forecast by £250 million.......Every Little Helps!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer supermarket chain! ;D >:( ;D

If I'm invited by Frank Skinner to take part in an episode of Room 101 then Tesco would be high on my list.

This supermarket had it far too easy for far too long and have no interest in customer service. Tesco are not even competitive on price. 

Burn in hell Tesco. >:( :( :-\ ;D


We shop at Lidl.....Aldi.....and of course Harrods. ::)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: cleggy on 22 September 2014, 21:03:38
What or who is Tesco? ??? We only go to the one shop, Waitrose, or slum it and have Sainsburys deliver. :y ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: 05omegav6 on 22 September 2014, 21:43:58
What or who is Tesco? ??? We only go to the one shop, Waitrose, or slum it and have Sainsburys deliver. :y ;D ;D ;D
I believe it is one of the Scilly Isles :-\
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Broomies Mate on 22 September 2014, 22:05:27
I can't understand for the life of me why everyone gives Tesco such a hard time.

The majority of the public shop at Tesco (or did, anyway) so they must have got a LOT right.

Oh, wait.  Yeah - They killed off the corner shop, the high street convenience store, the Petrol station which sold milk and bread.  I see it now.

How dare a company get things so right that they pretty much corner the market, open more convenience stores than any other company in the UK and serve more people than any other company in that sector?  How dare they build a business model which far superseded anything which was 'out there'?

I'm sure none of the haters will or can reply, because they are probably feeding the horse which will take them to work in the morning, from hay, bought from a Supermarket.... probably.

I'm all for Aldi/Lidl.  I'm all for Asda too!  I don't tend to visit Waitrose, as counting change at the till is frowned upon, and I get embarrassed.

Aldi/Lidl will get the same pathetic treatment in a decade or so.  Mark my words!
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 22 September 2014, 22:37:37
It's the British disease.  Blindly slag off a success story!  ::)

We should all hope that Tesco sort their problems out as all the pension funds will have Tesco shares in their portfolios!  ;)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Auto Addict on 23 September 2014, 06:42:24
What or who is Tesco? ??? We only go to the one shop, Waitrose, or slum it and have Sainsburys deliver. :y ;D ;D ;D
I believe it is one of the Scilly Isles :-\

 ;D
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 September 2014, 11:09:37
I can't understand for the life of me why everyone gives Tesco such a hard time.

The majority of the public shop at Tesco (or did, anyway) so they must have got a LOT right.

Oh, wait.  Yeah - They killed off the corner shop, the high street convenience store, the Petrol station which sold milk and bread.  I see it now.

How dare a company get things so right that they pretty much corner the market, open more convenience stores than any other company in the UK and serve more people than any other company in that sector?  How dare they build a business model which far superseded anything which was 'out there'?

I'm sure none of the haters will or can reply, because they are probably feeding the horse which will take them to work in the morning, from hay, bought from a Supermarket.... probably.

I'm all for Aldi/Lidl.  I'm all for Asda too!  I don't tend to visit Waitrose, as counting change at the till is frowned upon, and I get embarrassed.

Aldi/Lidl will get the same pathetic treatment in a decade or so.  Mark my words!

 ;D ;D ;D ;D Well I will answer that BM.

Where do I start - and these are a mixture orf my experiences, my many friends experiences, and my retail business experiences:

Bad attitude of staff,; unfriendly; unhelpful; can't crack a smile let alone talk to the customer; everything taken for granted that you will shop at Tesco (which I certainly don't now) with numerous other examples on line; refusal to sell alcohol to an adult because they have a "minor" with them who they think you are buying it for;  ditto with cigarettes (many examples amongst us that have also made the press from time to time;" leaders" in selling sub-standard products that contain horsemeat; an "unfortunate" practice of spreading rumours that they are going to build a supermarket (in multiple areas) that immediately destroys the value and retail power of the businesses around the site and devalues the value of the land that Tesco then build on taking advantage of their destructive power; oh, and yes two weeks ago I unfortunately went with a friend who insisted on going to Tesco - went to the Ladies and never had I seen a facility throughout my retail experience like it - no toilet rolls, no soap, floors dirty, bits of toilet roll all over the toilet  cubilcals and female hygiene bins overflowing - all an absolute disgrace for a food store as major as Tesco!

I am a dedicated Sainsbury's shopper have been since shopping with my mum as a child aged 3 years, who also uses Waitrose, Asda, and the likes of Iceland. What a different experience that always is, with staff in especially Sainsbury's always talking to you, smiling (one kept on not doing so and after my intervention they went!) and giving great service in great stores with lovely toilets! :D :D :D ;)   
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: 05omegav6 on 23 September 2014, 12:19:38
Lovely toilets... Not been in the Gents in our local ones then ::)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 September 2014, 12:28:02
Lovely toilets... Not been in the Gents in our local ones then ::)

No thanks!  I have always imagined gents toilets must be the pits!  In the best ladies toilets we have bunches of flowers, hand towels, and scents - but that is not normally in any supermarket toilet! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Rog on 23 September 2014, 13:39:37


 ;D ;D ;D ;D Well I will answer that BM.

Where do I start - and these are a mixture orf my experiences, my many friends experiences, and my retail business experiences:

Bad attitude of staff,; unfriendly; unhelpful; can't crack a smile let alone talk to the customer; everything taken for granted that you will shop at Tesco (which I certainly don't now) with numerous other examples on line; refusal to sell alcohol to an adult because they have a "minor" with them who they think you are buying it for;  ditto with cigarettes (many examples amongst us that have also made the press from time to time;" leaders" in selling sub-standard products that contain horsemeat; an "unfortunate" practice of spreading rumours that they are going to build a supermarket (in multiple areas) that immediately destroys the value and retail power of the businesses around the site and devalues the value of the land that Tesco then build on taking advantage of their destructive power; oh, and yes two weeks ago I unfortunately went with a friend who insisted on going to Tesco - went to the Ladies and never had I seen a facility throughout my retail experience like it - no toilet rolls, no soap, floors dirty, bits of toilet roll all over the toilet  cubilcals and female hygiene bins overflowing - all an absolute disgrace for a food store as major as Tesco!

I am a dedicated Sainsbury's shopper have been since shopping with my mum as a child aged 3 years, who also uses Waitrose, Asda, and the likes of Iceland. What a different experience that always is, with staff in especially Sainsbury's always talking to you, smiling (one kept on not doing so and after my intervention they went!) and giving great service in great stores with lovely toilets! :D :D :D ;)

Blimey Lizzie, you really are not a big fan are you ?   ;D

I have to say most of what you say puzzles me. My time is split between North London and West Wales and at the Tescos in both I don't see much, if any, of what you say. In Wales in particular, the staff are outstandingly helpful and pleasant, and chatty. Clean, nice toilets etc, with green hills and cows visible from the car park !

However I certainly have issues with Tesco. In particular the way in which they acquire sites, they bully and manipulate "We are Tesco and we get what we want" ! . . . . one way or the other. I know of one example where a large old shop in London agreed to sell to Tesco. Well into the process Tesco unilaterally reduced the price by £50k on a take it or leave basis. The owner pulled out and sold to Sainsburys.

Treatment of suppliers ? Numerous stories out there, despite the recent TV programme about their buying processes that was ever ever so . . . . "nice". PR crap

"every little helps" ? Yes of course many things are very cheap, and there are good deals. But across the board, they are expensive. Waitrose is frequently the same or even cheaper. No, "every little" of what ? . . . . how about Bull S ?

In London I shop mostly in a Lidl that is walking distance. In Wales, I try to use local town centre shops and the market, but also Lidl, but I do use Tesco and Morissons sometimes. In fact Tesco and Morrisons are almost the only petrol stations left. There is talk of a Tesco Express in the town . . . . . goodbye market ?









 


Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 23 September 2014, 13:49:46
In my opinion Tesco have done very little to deserve their success. They just 'got lucky'

Because they didn't have to work at it they have become even more flabby and complacent....with customers being an irritation.

Finally, people are learning that there are far better places to shop and are leaving Tesco in droves.

....also Tesco charge 4p a litre more than the local Jet station. Do Tesco care?.....No of course not. :-\
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: 2boxerdogs on 23 September 2014, 14:02:45
We use most of the stores that have been mentioned , must be lucky have never had cause to complain about the staff all appear to do a good job to me ..Would I want their job ? No way, have dealt with members of the general public for years  some of them seem to be the most rude & miserable individuals to draw breath.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Rog on 23 September 2014, 14:08:04
In my opinion Tesco have done very little to deserve their success. They just 'got lucky'

Because they didn't have to work at it they have become even more flabby and complacent....with customers being an irritation.

Finally, people are learning that there are far better places to shop and are leaving Tesco in droves.

....also Tesco charge 4p a litre more than the local Jet station. Do Tesco care?.....No of course not. :-\

Of course not . . . . . . because enough people are still buying 

The supermarkets, Tesco and Sainsburys in particular, operate on a smoke and mirrors basis, being able to fool most of the people most of the time.

I just love paying for stuff in Tesco . . . . with a Sainsburys card   :y or loading my stuff into a huge Lidl carrier bag.

On the subject of carrier bags, I shop in France quite often. The supermarket Auchan has very large and VERY strong bags at the checkout that cost €00.65. In our supermarkets you pay £1 for some bit of tat that falls apart after two uses. Rip-off Britain once again
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 23 September 2014, 14:51:11


 ;D ;D ;D ;D Well I will answer that BM.

Where do I start - and these are a mixture orf my experiences, my many friends experiences, and my retail business experiences:

Bad attitude of staff,; unfriendly; unhelpful; can't crack a smile let alone talk to the customer; everything taken for granted that you will shop at Tesco (which I certainly don't now) with numerous other examples on line; refusal to sell alcohol to an adult because they have a "minor" with them who they think you are buying it for;  ditto with cigarettes (many examples amongst us that have also made the press from time to time;" leaders" in selling sub-standard products that contain horsemeat; an "unfortunate" practice of spreading rumours that they are going to build a supermarket (in multiple areas) that immediately destroys the value and retail power of the businesses around the site and devalues the value of the land that Tesco then build on taking advantage of their destructive power; oh, and yes two weeks ago I unfortunately went with a friend who insisted on going to Tesco - went to the Ladies and never had I seen a facility throughout my retail experience like it - no toilet rolls, no soap, floors dirty, bits of toilet roll all over the toilet  cubilcals and female hygiene bins overflowing - all an absolute disgrace for a food store as major as Tesco!

I am a dedicated Sainsbury's shopper have been since shopping with my mum as a child aged 3 years, who also uses Waitrose, Asda, and the likes of Iceland. What a different experience that always is, with staff in especially Sainsbury's always talking to you, smiling (one kept on not doing so and after my intervention they went!) and giving great service in great stores with lovely toilets! :D :D :D ;)

Blimey Lizzie, you really are not a big fan are you ?   ;D

I have to say most of what you say puzzles me. My time is split between North London and West Wales and at the Tescos in both I don't see much, if any, of what you say. In Wales in particular, the staff are outstandingly helpful and pleasant, and chatty. Clean, nice toilets etc, with green hills and cows visible from the car park !

However I certainly have issues with Tesco. In particular the way in which they acquire sites, they bully and manipulate "We are Tesco and we get what we want" ! . . . . one way or the other. I know of one example where a large old shop in London agreed to sell to Tesco. Well into the process Tesco unilaterally reduced the price by £50k on a take it or leave basis. The owner pulled out and sold to Sainsburys.

Treatment of suppliers ? Numerous stories out there, despite the recent TV programme about their buying processes that was ever ever so . . . . "nice". PR crap

"every little helps" ? Yes of course many things are very cheap, and there are good deals. But across the board, they are expensive. Waitrose is frequently the same or even cheaper. No, "every little" of what ? . . . . how about Bull S ?

In London I shop mostly in a Lidl that is walking distance. In Wales, I try to use local town centre shops and the market, but also Lidl, but I do use Tesco and Morissons sometimes. In fact Tesco and Morrisons are almost the only petrol stations left. There is talk of a Tesco Express in the town . . . . . goodbye market ?
 

I wonder how you got that impression Rog!! :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I view retail stores with the eyes of a professional, very experienced at training large retail teams in Customer Service, with 40 years experience of managing a retail multi-million pound business with full P&L responsibility. You will get regional / individual store variations in standards dependant on the quality of the management and the type of personnel they employ.

Overall the standards, or lack of them, is my experience after using many of their stores, often with friends, over many years.

The supplier issue is also a serious one, although in all honesty that is rampant throughout the retail trade with all the major chains; you use your huge buying power to get the best deals for your company that gives you maximum gross profit whilst still remaining competitive in the market place. Manufactures, their products, and sometimes both can be ruined if they lose the big chains business, so the best survive by using their professionalism to the full and maintaining high turn-over and the maximum unit costs they can attain in any given circumstances.

The joys of market forces! :P :P :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: aaronjb on 23 September 2014, 15:01:21
Damn those market forces.  Communism would fix all this, I'm sure.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Varche on 23 September 2014, 15:27:15
We were wondering only the other day , how many folk actually choose which supermarket as opposed to end up using one because it is convenient e.g. nearest or has a petrol station as well. For years our corner store was Safeway- a seven minute walk. We had an Asda but the parking was awful and the council wouldn't give them more space. The town now has a Tesco which involved all the shenanigans people have mentioned.

I have two relatives who work for Tesco. Well one has just retired . Both say the company gets their pound of flesh from their staff!

Anyone remember Liptons supermarket chain? I worked in the Scarborough branch(now a beefburger joint) as a teenager.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Stuart30 on 23 September 2014, 20:13:25
I worked as a labourer many years ago and one of the houses I worked on was owned by a newly retired Tesco Director.

To say he was minted was an understatement (Had a £25,000 Volvo estate for taking hedge clippings to the dump,The Merc was for daily driving)...but to talk to the guy he was amazing,so easy going and would insist we stopped and had a cuppa with him or help ourselves to a fridge full of cold drinks etc.

He said he started off at a Small store in London as a trainee butcher,worked his way to the top...but always remained as he started out,polite/helpful and considered himself no different to anyone else.

He also told us (were talking 20+ years ago) that you shouldn't buy Tesco meat as it was Gassed to stop it turning bad,whilst it might appear to be nice and fresh looking...it wouldn't be as the age of the meat was much older than people knew. :(

Top bloke...Can't say im a Tesco fan,but to be honest Sainsbury is just as bad (wife works there).
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: biggriffin on 23 September 2014, 20:25:02
They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: TheBoy on 23 September 2014, 21:05:34
I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Rog on 23 September 2014, 21:12:31
They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much :-\


 
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 24 September 2014, 12:50:07
I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...

In many ways that is true TB, but my thoughts are based on a mix of personal, professional, and others experience.  The trouble with many British companies, if no others, is they become complacent, self centred on their own success, and then dictatorial, ignoring what the customer actually wants.

Marks & Spencers have done that, and are still fighting to regain their position in the market with us women. Sainsbury's, once the leading supermarket did it, and really went off the boil allowing Tesco's in. The British motor companies of Austin, Morris, Wolsley, Rover, etc., also did that, producing cars that the world, let alone British motorists did not want thus allowing the Japanese in, who also destroyed a complacent British motor cycle industry.

As I touched on before, market forces dictate who is successful, who is not, and who will go out of business. Lose sight of that and only do what you want to as a retailer or manufacturer, and away you go.  Somerfield, Home & Colonial, Lipton's, Kwik Save, Cyril Lord Carpets, Rolls Electricals, Ekco  Radio's, etc, etc, have all gone due to losing site of the market and customer needs, and by God there will be more!

Only the fittest will survive! :y
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 13:28:27
Yep...I agree with Mistress Lizzie. :-* :-*

'Complacent' being the operative word.

Tesco long ago gave up 'wanting to be the best' and instead became complacent.

Their attitude these days has more of a 'f**k you' feel to it, and they are now paying the price for being dismissive of the people who shop there.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: omega3000 on 24 September 2014, 13:40:51
Our new Tesco superstore is great , always friendly and happy to help ... just keep out my way round the corners while im in the scooter  >:( :P
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 24 September 2014, 14:00:53
They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much :-\

I worked for a haulage company a few years ago that had a good contract with Sainsbury's.  I was picking up a load of pork chops at an abbotoir one day and one of the fellas told me that Sainsburys wanted to run a 2 for 1 promotion on pork chops and were expecting the meat company to supply the extra chop free of charge!!  :o :o :o

The directors of the meat company were refusing but Sainsburys were playing hardball and threatening to take their business elsewhere.  Apparently the meat company were between a rock and a hard place as they depended on the Sainsburys contract, but would make a loss if they supplied the extra meat for free.....  ::)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 14:06:14
They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much :-\

I worked for a haulage company a few years ago that had a good contract with Sainsbury's.  I was picking up a load of pork chops at an abbotoir one day and one of the fellas told me that Sainsburys wanted to run a 2 for 1 promotion on pork chops and were expecting the meat company to supply the extra chop free of charge!!  :o :o :o

The directors of the meat company were refusing but Sainsburys were playing hardball and threatening to take their business elsewhere.  Apparently the meat company were between a rock and a hard place as they depended on the Sainsburys contract, but would make a loss if they supplied the extra meat for free.....  ::)

All two for one promotions of BOGOF's if you prefer are at the expense of the supplier.

It's not the supermarkets who are taking the hit. They are not that benevolent. :-\
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: peter the butcher on 24 September 2014, 14:06:53
What or who is Tesco? ??? We only go to the one shop, Waitrose, or slum it and have Sainsburys deliver. :y ;D ;D ;D
I believe it is one of the Scilly Isles :-\
lol, that Tresco, boss has a cottage there
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 14:08:04
Our new Tesco superstore is great , always friendly and happy to help ... just keep out my way round the corners while im in the scooter >:( :P

Scooter?.......How about a Kawasaki ZX1400?

Would that be allowed?
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: peter the butcher on 24 September 2014, 14:14:20


Anyone remember Liptons supermarket chain? I worked in the Scarborough branch(now a beefburger joint) as a teenager.
[/quote]

I did a weeks relief butchery manager at one in Scarborough years ago
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 14:18:19
Damn those market forces.  Communism would fix all this, I'm sure.

....and what is so very wrong with waiting in a queue  for three hours for a loaf of stale bread?.... :D ;D ;D

The drive back to your USSR era tower block in your smoky two stroke Trabant would be sheer bliss.  :y

Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 14:19:49


Anyone remember Liptons supermarket chain? I worked in the Scarborough branch(now a beefburger joint) as a teenager.

I did a weeks relief butchery manager at one in Scarborough years ago
[/quote]

Yes....and George Mason...... :y
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 24 September 2014, 16:30:40
They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much :-\

I worked for a haulage company a few years ago that had a good contract with Sainsbury's.  I was picking up a load of pork chops at an abbotoir one day and one of the fellas told me that Sainsburys wanted to run a 2 for 1 promotion on pork chops and were expecting the meat company to supply the extra chop free of charge!!  :o :o :o

The directors of the meat company were refusing but Sainsburys were playing hardball and threatening to take their business elsewhere.  Apparently the meat company were between a rock and a hard place as they depended on the Sainsburys contract, but would make a loss if they supplied the extra meat for free.....  ::)

All two for one promotions of BOGOF's if you prefer are at the expense of the supplier.

It's not the supermarkets who are taking the hit. They are not that benevolent. :-\

Yes Opti, that is usual practice. However it is often the supplier who encourages that as they want maximum distribution for their product whilst lowering the unit cost of production by greater quantities coming off the lines. Certainly the manufacturers I negotiated with often offered me and other buyers a lower unit price if we purchased say 100,000 units instead of 80,000 with promotions like BOGOF's attached.  If at the end of the year we got close to meeting the next price discount level by buying another 15,000 units that could be worth to us the retailer another £50,000 of gross profit in just terms of a further discount on the cost price on all our buying from that manufacture for the year.  It is all a big game; you as a retailer want to sell product that suits your business model, but at the right price to encourage consumers to buy; the manufacturer wants to increase it's levels of production and increase product distribution to lower the manufacturing costs and improve the market share of their line. Higher profits, the name of the game, is the result!

Then, at the end of the day if the price is right and the product has maximum availability, great advertising, the consumer should buy and want more; everyone is happy!

If everyone gets it wrong, with the wrong product, at the wrong price, in the wrong quantities, with poor advertising, you have a turkey on your hands and the retailer with the manufacturer takes a hit!

Product positioning in the market is so important and the manufacturer and retailer all play their part in the profits game. In 2014 the quality, premium products, are being squeezed by the less recognisable and economy / cheaper ones with the supermarkets identified for selling the latter gaining ground and knocking the likes of Tesco for six. The market is a changing and be ready for some fall out as has been seen in the recent past. Morrison's losing market share due to not entering the on-line business until almost too late is yet another example of how a retailer, no matter how big they may be, can lose focus on the market, fail to respond due to an out-dated business model, can come a cropper! :)
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: cleggy on 24 September 2014, 16:55:39
You will find that the offers on products rotate round the supermarkets. Take Peroni 660ml bottles, an area I'm not unfamiliar with ;) ;D, varies between £2.50 and £2.80 a bottle. That said, it is always available at two for £4.00 in cycles of 2 or 3 weeks at Sainsburys, then  Co-op, then Tesco then back. There must be some agreement between the supplier and the supermarkets, which is a bit naughty, why not just £2 a bottle or less :y
The staff at our Tesco are great, friendly, helpful and have a bit of banter, bearing in mind I only go when the Peroni is on offer and will pick up the odd staple as required. The petrol discounts are reasonable with a club card up to 20p per litre off depending on what you spend in a month. So when the Peroni is on the offer I save the maximum on the monthly fill up. :y
For meat, fish, fruit and vegetables we use farmers markets or the local shops. :y
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: tooleater on 24 September 2014, 17:10:11
Every little helps. Is that why they keep reducing the size and weight of products and charging more. That's the thing about Greed downward spiral where does it stop >:(
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: cleggy on 24 September 2014, 17:18:00
Every little helps. Is that why they keep reducing the size and weight of products and charging more. That's the thing about Greed downward spiral where does it stop >:(

Standard sizing and weight should be equal so then the customer can easily assess the value. Mind you I remember when Mars Bars where a tanner and the size of a house brick from the local sweet shop. Supermarkets were still on the other side of the Atlantic. ;D
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 24 September 2014, 17:50:27
You will find that the offers on products rotate round the supermarkets. Take Peroni 660ml bottles, an area I'm not unfamiliar with ;) ;D, varies between £2.50 and £2.80 a bottle. That said, it is always available at two for £4.00 in cycles of 2 or 3 weeks at Sainsburys, then  Co-op, then Tesco then back. There must be some agreement between the supplier and the supermarkets, which is a bit naughty, why not just £2 a bottle or less :y
The staff at our Tesco are great, friendly, helpful and have a bit of banter, bearing in mind I only go when the Peroni is on offer and will pick up the odd staple as required. The petrol discounts are reasonable with a club card up to 20p per litre off depending on what you spend in a month. So when the Peroni is on the offer I save the maximum on the monthly fill up. :y
For meat, fish, fruit and vegetables we use farmers markets or the local shops. :y

We know. ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: omega3000 on 24 September 2014, 18:11:23
Every little helps. Is that why they keep reducing the size and weight of products and charging more. That's the thing about Greed downward spiral where does it stop >:(

Standard sizing and weight should be equal so then the customer can easily assess the value. Mind you I remember when Mars Bars where a tanner and the size of a house brick from the local sweet shop. Supermarkets were still on the other side of the Atlantic. ;D

+1  :y And use to take a good half hour to chew through a CurlyWurly  :P :P :P
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2014, 18:58:07
I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...

In many ways that is true TB, but my thoughts are based on a mix of personal, professional, and others experience.  The trouble with many British companies, if no others, is they become complacent, self centred on their own success, and then dictatorial, ignoring what the customer actually wants.

Marks & Spencers have done that, and are still fighting to regain their position in the market with us women. Sainsbury's, once the leading supermarket did it, and really went off the boil allowing Tesco's in. The British motor companies of Austin, Morris, Wolsley, Rover, etc., also did that, producing cars that the world, let alone British motorists did not want thus allowing the Japanese in, who also destroyed a complacent British motor cycle industry.

As I touched on before, market forces dictate who is successful, who is not, and who will go out of business. Lose sight of that and only do what you want to as a retailer or manufacturer, and away you go.  Somerfield, Home & Colonial, Lipton's, Kwik Save, Cyril Lord Carpets, Rolls Electricals, Ekco  Radio's, etc, etc, have all gone due to losing site of the market and customer needs, and by God there will be more!

Only the fittest will survive! :y
I keep trying to tell my mgmt. that...  ...even though its internal customers mostly. Not one ounce of business sense between them.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2014, 18:58:39
And that's why, m'lord, I keep ending up on special report.
Title: Re: Tesco Every Little Helps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 24 September 2014, 19:30:01
I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...

In many ways that is true TB, but my thoughts are based on a mix of personal, professional, and others experience.  The trouble with many British companies, if no others, is they become complacent, self centred on their own success, and then dictatorial, ignoring what the customer actually wants.

Marks & Spencers have done that, and are still fighting to regain their position in the market with us women. Sainsbury's, once the leading supermarket did it, and really went off the boil allowing Tesco's in. The British motor companies of Austin, Morris, Wolsley, Rover, etc., also did that, producing cars that the world, let alone British motorists did not want thus allowing the Japanese in, who also destroyed a complacent British motor cycle industry.

As I touched on before, market forces dictate who is successful, who is not, and who will go out of business. Lose sight of that and only do what you want to as a retailer or manufacturer, and away you go.  Somerfield, Home & Colonial, Lipton's, Kwik Save, Cyril Lord Carpets, Rolls Electricals, Ekco  Radio's, etc, etc, have all gone due to losing site of the market and customer needs, and by God there will be more!

Only the fittest will survive! :y
I keep trying to tell my mgmt. that...  ...even though its internal customers mostly. Not one ounce of business sense between them.


Yep TB, and that was the main cause of all those British companies downfalls, especially within the motor industry. Bad models, bad staff relations, bad quality, and all the wrong decisions at the wrong time  -  when it was all too late! ::) ::) :(

These cases still feature in the annuls of bad management and should be guides to current and future directors. ;)