my thoughts on the planet this week

I was visiting my local supermarket after finishing work on the weekend. The supermarket was as it usually is on a Saturday with the parents with the baby in their arms, the families out in force, the week day workers all doing their weekly shop, pretty much when rugby meets an enclosed space and bright lights, let the battle begin type scenario. The checkouts all laiden with queues with there being not one short queue and generally the place looks like its been ransacked or people went mad stocking up for the preparation for the worlds worst storm or armageddon, as there were many shelves emptied entirely of products which left not a lot of choice left to pick from whatever remained or a long wait for when the shelves are restocked with what you actually want (The staff were out in army fashion on their sections stacking and re-filling the bare shelves that were emptying as fast as they were stacking). The interesting thing was that one of the end aisle’s was stacked top to bottom shelf full of the store’s own brand. I had noticed, and thought how interesting it was to see that the cheaper versions of certain products looked as though they hadn’t been touched, not even handled. Every product was perfectly placed and each carton stood proud next to it’s neighbour, the packets were all puffed up and neatly arranged, with the white of the very basic packaging drawing the eye in. It was like a glowing wall of white variants of glossy packaging gone mad. The items were generally cashew nuts, ground coffee, juices, flour and so on. The point is we are supposed to be experiencing a recession, apparently, one of the worst since the Second World War. 

I personally have tried certain items from the cheaper brand at this particular store and all were of satisfactory proportion. I would only buy the things that are cheaper that I know won’t really be affected or compromised in taste or quality too badly, like coffee, tea, mozarella and nuts.  With the supermarkets competing for profit margins, they too are seeking out the more eco-friendy and fair trade items to hit the conscious consumers as well as those on a budget. Which is good news all round. I couldn’t help but find it odd that the cheaper brand products hadn’t been touched, unless they had just been stocked up of course. If the latter is not the case, then I wonder why there were so many of the cheaper brand products, as if you are choosy in what you pick a bargain can be had, and if we are in a recession, is food something that the UK consumer will not compromise on?.