How
exciting to run up and down the aisles of the gigantic warehouse,
discovering new delights in the confectionery section. |
| Sarah
Bickenson |
A topic
I have been pondering recently is the disappearance of the independent
retailer.
I have
on many occasions heard the older generations mourning the loss
of their beloved local grocers and butchers; the family businesses
who prided themselves on knowing their customers' names and always
had time for a chat.
Contentious
issue
This
has been a contentious issue
for several years now and a brief search on the net will find numerous
pieces about the war between supermarkets and sole traders.
This
got me thinkingÂ…. There seems to be so much reminiscing from
people who remember their neighbourhood, family, hardware store
but very little thought from those of us from younger generations,
in our teens and twenties, who have never had the pleasure of such
an experience.
As
veterans of the superstore, how do we feel about the independents?
Childhood
memories
I have
vague childhood memories of my grandparents gossiping with the owner
of the general store in their sleepy Cornish town but for me, the
Tesco hypermarket holds a special place in my heart.
|
I
didn't realise there is a difference between a grocer and a
greengrocer. |
| Sarah
Bickenson |
How
exciting to run up and down the aisles of the gigantic warehouse,
discovering new delights in the confectionery section, choosing
the cereal with the coolest models from the latest film.
A visit
to the supermarket was never a chore for me; in fact it was the
best part of the day.
Unusual
ingredients
As
I get older I relish in the variety available at Sainsbury's.
I can
wow my friends with my culinary skills, producing Thai curries or
Moroccan couscous salad. However, should I assume that Asda is the
only place I can buy my unusual ingredients?
Apparently
not.
Several
acquaintances have chastised my ignorance. They advise me of their
local greengrocers, who sell everything from star fruit and guava
to ladies fingers and Jamaican artichokes; or the fishmongers with
seafood galore, of the kind only dreamt of at Somerfield.
How
could I have overlooked these extensive offers?
Era
of speed
The
word that jumps directly to mind is convenience. We live in an era
of speed.
We
no longer have time to traipse from one end of the high street to
the other in search of our weekly shop. Its all about the quick
in, quick out, one stop, trolley full, huge car park, supermarket
trip.
I'm
certain we would all love to be on first name terms with the baker
but to be perfectly honest, we haven't got time for more than a
"hello" anyway.
Determination
As
I'm writing, I'm feeling an increasing determination to frequent
my nearby independents, whilst they still exist.
I get
the impression I have been missing out on a serious part of my country's
heritageÂ… or something.
Mostly,
I'm spurred on by the embarrassing discovery that I didn't realise
there is a difference between a grocer and a greengrocer (apparently
the former sells all kinds of things whilst the latter only fruit
and veg).
I think
it's about time I started supporting them both.
Article
by Sarah Bickenson
This
article contains user-generated content (i.e. external contribution)
expressing a personal opinion, not the views of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire.
Have
your say
Your
comments:
Toby
Phoenix
I think that independants are far superior - they have better quality
throughout and your going to have a nicer neighbourhood if you support
your local shop!
Ellen
S. Newell
I shop at all of them: I like the small ones because of the personal
attention to customers, and also to what they have: I like the big
ones cause they can carry so many products, but you can't necessarily
get in and out faster; and I like the greengrocer very, very much.
But being that I am in the older generation, I am used to all of
them, and hope that the small grocer never goes away.
Amy
I try to always buy meat at the butchers cos its much better quality.
I do most of the rest of my shopping at the supermarket tho - its
so much easier and there's nowhere to park in town
|
Twenty-something
Sarah Bickenson always shops in a large supermarket. But is it now
time to start tasting the delights of the local greengrocer?
