We were only on our way past to a small 'wholefoods' shop just around the corner. F hasn't been to the supermarket since March, asserting that we can make do with the outdoor market and the local corner shop. Supermarkets, she thinks, are a prime example of a 'superspreader' event (whatever that is. As spreads go I prefer butter, unsalted.... super spreadable or not is irrelevant to me).
She is wrong on one thing - the 'we' in that statement. She can eat all the rabbit food she likes, but I need superior catfood from Cosmozoo (other pet-shops exist but I don't get personal greetings from the staff at those), and I like (irrespective of whether I need) visits to the butcher.
I have to sit on my Donkey at the door of the butcher shop, but I can see and smell what goes on inside.
We do kind of agree that supermarkets don't need any more assistance to out-compete small businesses, and a boycott of supermarkets in favour of small independent traders and shops is a sound principle for all sorts of reasons - IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT - and of course many people can't.
At least where we live in Greece all sorts of small local independent food businesses survive, might even have been thriving until 2020. This second lock-down has permitted food places to stay open so we hope that all those bakeries, cheese shops, butchers, and greengrocers that are dotted about the suburbs within walking distance of hundreds of homes do more than just cling on. If they go, the notion of having to make a car journey to some distant 'super' market will be an expensive disadvantage to so many people. Sure their goods might be a bit more expensive, but at what saving against the cost of owning and operating a car?
Where we lived in UK, supermarkets had put paid to all the greengrocers, all but one bakery (and it concentrated mainly on pies) and one butcher shop (which sold only pre-packaged meat on polystyrene trays) and were making rapid inroads on out-competing all the remaining clothing shops, the one remaining hardware outlet, shoe shops, card shops, electronics/phones/computing, cafes, and even having a go at the bread and butter of garden centres. Our town was gutted, the main street closed down in favour of out of town retail parks, accessible only by car because public transport there was, in effect, none. The few shops that remained in town were mostly charity shops (14 at last count before we left!). Only pubs and jewellers seemed not to be represented in the supermarkets, which could of course sell alcohol.
If there is one thing that 2020 has brought home to this household it is the importance of community, of local resources, of things and people close to home.
Wow that blog turned out a lot longer than what it started out to be - so we have added to the title. I think F needs to start getting out a bit more or my blog is going to be hijacked for weird ramblings.....
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Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh, but I am with you - and F... supermarkets do have a place in large towns... but in small places like my beloved Dunoon, they have really 'done for' the small businesses. That said, I have to admit that I am not prepared to go mingle at all in any shops (last week's visit to the post office was a REAL challenge) so am glad of the online option provided by the supermarkets. Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
The small shops around here ran personal deliveries during the lockdowns. I suspect a few of their less abled customers get deliveries year round. All delivered on foot. F was also surprised to discover one day that she went to pull out her card and realized she'd left it at home that the local shop runs an old-fashioned 'tab' - a system of personalized trust the big corporate outlets can't compete with. We get you on not mingling in shops and have avoided all the big ones like... well like the plague. Just make sure you don't have to become a recluse now YAM-Aunty - F's going a bit that way and I'm starting to chew tinsel. Furrings and Purrings Mr T
DeletePoor puss - hoe someone took pity n him and dropped a morsel or two his way Although he doesn’t exactly look starving does he. Maybe a bit of Jenny Craig is what he needs....wouldn’t want it - but then neither would I.
ReplyDeleteSadly a great deal of our smaller independent places had to close during’locdwn’. Not large enough to be classed essential. Some have reopened...others decided it was ‘all too hard’
Nothing poor Puss about that guy - he was clearly well looked after. He looked like he was waiting for a specific person to come back out (like a dog does).
DeleteIt's sad about businesses throwing in the towel - or being forced to do so. We have read a few stories of people furloughed during lockdowns starting up new small businesses while stuck at home and discovering they could make a reasonable living from them. It might be a case of come the circumstances, come the new business model. All things are cyclical and so it may prove to be with big corporate online retailers. They can't deliver a haircut in a cardboard box, nor a social gathering with friends.
Salted butter always, but if its anchor I'd eat it any old way.
ReplyDeleteSmall shops are doing well here, grocers, greengrocers, butchers. People prefer them and their prices mostly are just as good as the, bigger, 'supermarket'. Smaller businesses look after the customer.
Also they're all in different neighbourhoods so are used by those in the area. And, no queue. You don't even have to go inside. My other half stands at the door and gives orders, they bring the bags out and he pays with a card, meanwhile having a gossip and learning all the latest news
Now that's what I call shopping. I'm with the people who prefer small shops - always.
DeleteMy grandad was a grocer in the days when the customer stood at the counter and read off their shopping list while the grocer ran about and up and down ladders etc to get all the required items and stack them on the counter, cutting cheese and carving ham (just like it is still done here actually). You can just imagine his customers - their shopping hats firmly pinned to the hair-bun, basket over arm....
And I love buying slabs of cheese, cut from the block and wrapped up in waxed paper.
I agree with you about supermarkets, especially here when people aren't scanning their covid apps in their phones, the cat has the right idea.
ReplyDelete