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In praise of supermarkets
In the latest in his provocative columns, lawyer and Horsham district councillor Philip Circus argues that supermarkets have been a driving force in raising the standard of living for the people of our country. These columns are written in a personal capacity and do not seek to promote a party political point of view.
RECENTLY we bought a pot of cream from a farm shop. I say 'cream', but in fact it tasted like milk – and skimmed milk at that.
I complained to West Sussex Trading Standards who conducted a series of test purchases at the farm shop which they sent for analysis. Although they did in fact meet the requirements of the relevant legislation, they only just exceeded the required fat content.
Be that as it may, despite being from a local farm it was, in my view, a poor substitute for any pot of cream one can buy at a supermarket.
An isolated example? In another farm shop we saw two crusty rolls for sale – for 1.37. Next door in a supermarket, four crusty rolls could be purchased for a price which would give change out of 1.37.
The supermarket rolls were in a sealed pack whereas the farm shop rolls were loose on the rack and were being handled by customers without gloves or tongs.
Many people are attracted to buying what they see as fresh produce. But is it actually any fresher? Is it actually any healthier for you?
Increasingly in my experience some purchasers are paying over the odds for food which is no better than food off the supermarket shelf.
Supermarkets often get a bad press – unjustifiably so in my opinion. The supermarkets have brought a massive range of quality food within the purchasing power of ordinary people to a degree beyond the wildest imaginings of previous generations.
Local is fine on occasion, but there are times when it has nothing to do with buying quality and everything to do with what the PR world calls 'Lifestyle purchases'.
In West Chiltington, the prospect of a Waitrose supermarket in nearby Storrington is eagerly awaited and rightly so.
It will be good news for the residents of West Chiltington and a huge bonus to Storrington and, I believe, to the local small shops as well because of the increased footfall generally that the supermarket will create.
Supermarkets are often hate targets for the left and the Green lobby in particular. Yet over recent years few organisations have done more to raise the standard of living for the people of our country.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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