The People's Supermarket

mrb · #1 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 05:49 PM

Has anybody else been watching the The People's Supermarket - Channel 4

It's an interesting concept, dreamed up 2 years ago by chef, Arthur Potts Dawson.... "on a visit to the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, New York, the granddaddy of modern co-operative shopping. Set up in 1973, the Food Coop... ...is co-owned by 14,000 members, who each work an hour or more a month in return for discounts of up to 40 per cent. Organic poultry nestles next to wild fish and fairtrade chocolate; freshly baked bread is sold alongside artisan cheeses and environmentally safe cleaning supplies. 'They're extraordinary there,' says Potts Dawson. 'You get people coming in at 5am, two hours before going to work, to stock the shelves. We've got just over 400 members, and we couldn't hope to have the same set-up so early on. But this is the embryonic stage - our principles are the same.' (Full Article).

Would you work a few hours a month in the supermarket to get the benefits?

I raise it as I've just seen that there may be a national roll-out for the People's Supermarket.

Is David Camerons Big Society taking shape?

CareersPartnershipUK · #2 (**permalink**) 21-02-11, 09:40 PM

I can't see how it would work in low-cost supermarkets (like most of those in the UK). The profit margin's so small shareholders would need to work hours to get their discounts.

Isn't there something more exciting and worthwhile these people want to do?

sjr4x4 · #3 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 09:57 AM

hmmm, not convinced. Socialism meets capitalism?

Do we start working for free, a few hours at different companies for discounts and profit shares... Sounds all a bit utopian to me, or am I just being grumpy...

Kevin.Wiles · #4 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 10:04 AM

There are allot of things changing and it seems allot more things will change in time to come but honestly I can't see most of them working and I can't see them helping the UK and its current situation.

indizine · #5 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 10:08 AM

Oh not not here as well! I put my 2c of my own opinions on the same topic on sheffielfd forum and some cuckoo got the hump with my views. So it seems if you don't agree with someone, you are pessimistic, negative, etc. Clearly on the basis of the idea laid before us in that forum, it won't work as it said it was up for 'competing on prices with Tesco's'. Yeah right!

It's a nice-sounding concept if you want to work even more hours than we do already (as business owners) but I dont work for myself to then earn money to then have to work somewhere else in order to avoid spending it.

sjr4x4 · #6 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indizine

Oh not not here as well! I put my 2c of my own opinions on the same topic on sheffielfd forum and some cuckoo got the hump with my views

Sandra, you been upsetting people again? lol

For me that's got to be quote of the day, love it

"I dont work for myself to then earn money to then have to work somewhere else in order to avoid spending it"

sjr4x4 · #7 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

For me that's got to be quote of the day, love it

"I dont work for myself to then earn money to then have to work somewhere else in order to avoid spending it"

Ok, I couldn't resist a sneak peak to see what the fuss was about. I must say, you Yorkshire folk are a feisty bunch

New favourite quote is from the sheffield forum - People from Sheffield? Work for free? That's pretty unlikely!

Do you think we should invite andrey_k here?

indizine · #8 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 03:29 PM

I wasnt arguing with andrey_k, it wasnt their thread...that we know of..... but I said that the idea couldnt compete with tesco on price yet they conveniently overlooked that small point and decided instead to rant on about me being negative to the idea....which I wasnt. I hate shopping and fast foods!

Some folk have no idea and I dont believe they run a business or have even managed a proper cashflow and P&L.

I dont think the majority of people would work for free on that concept or any other, apart form volunteer work, which is different of course.

Fesity......me? Not at all. But I believe we are entitled to an opinion when we are highly experienced to give one

mrb · #9 (**permalink**) 22-02-11, 08:48 PM

Well I'm no andrey_k but can I ask if people have seen the programme?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CareersPartnershipUK

....Isn't there something more exciting and worthwhile these people want to do?

Some people would see this as worthwhile?

Do you want to see the day when you have to do all your shopping (not just food!) at a supermarket because all the smaller businesses have been put put of business? I'm all for capitalism but I do believe there is a balance and one which society needs to address.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

hmmm, not convinced. Socialism meets capitalism?

Do we start working for free, a few hours at different companies for discounts and profit shares... Sounds all a bit utopian to me, or am I just being grumpy...

I see your point, but I think it's about choosing your battles/businesses. If a company becomes a monopoly processes are put in place to control their power in the marketplace (e.g. Microsoft). When you have 4/5 companies in the marketplace it may not be so obvious, and often in reality there may only be one sensible option so it can be a localised monopoly. (e.g. Tesco's is 1 mile away and other supermarkets are further away.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by indizine

....but I said that the idea couldnt compete with tesco on price yet they conveniently overlooked that small point....

Quote:

Originally Posted by indizine

... it won't work as it said it was up for 'competing on prices with Tesco's'. Yeah right!

Yes.

If you saw the last programme you can see how they can. Such as having bendy cucumbers and funny shaped peppers. I'd much rather have a 15p funny looking pepper that tastes just as good rather than spending 80p on a "perfect" looking one. It also reduces the food waste as the producers/farmers had to previously just throw away the "funny looking" produce.

Quote:

Originally Posted by indizine

I dont think the majority of people would work for free on that concept or any other, apart form volunteer work, which is different of course.

I can see what you meant but people may class working in The People's Supermarket as volunteer work!

Quote:

Originally Posted by indizine

Fesity......me? Not at all. But I believe we are entitled to an opinion when we are highly experienced to give one

Agreed. May battle commence.

Oh, and finally, any fruit and veg that is about to go off in the supermarket they use in the onsite kitchen to make stuff and sell lunches etc.. (even less food waste)

sjr4x4 · #10 (**permalink**) 23-02-11, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrb

When you have 4/5 companies in the marketplace it may not be so obvious, and often in reality there may only be one sensible option so it can be a localised monopoly. (e.g. Tesco's is 1 mile away and other supermarkets are further away.)

Will freely admit to not seeing that program (you have time for TV?)

Although from what I've read, some of the principles are admirable, and do agree in better prices for local produce etc, reality is, we can all vote with our feet and wallets.

Me personally, in this busy time constrained world, I like the convenience of doing the lion share of my shop in Tescos or Morrisons, rather than trudging round the shops. I also like to get nice cuts of meat from our local butcher. Doesn't make me a bad person, just a reality of a busy 21st century lifestyle, and not a rose tinted look at yesteryear.

Do I think we need to have strawberries flown in from outer mongolia in Winter, probarbly not, and what a good idea that the onsite cafe uses veg thats going out of date, but I would have thought all of the supermarkets did that any way, for obvious commercial reasons.

Buying the wrong shape mushroom or bananas doesn't bother me, but I'll confess to following the sheep and usually end up picking the best ones.

I think I much prefer a world with Tescos in it, but if a rival gradually forces the bigger supermarkets to make us think about some of our buying habits, then that can't be a bad thing.

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