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Original poster

This myth about supermarkets putting junk food at the front

35 replies

SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:28

Not here they dont.
And I live in a crap town.

Closest is a large Tesco. As you walk in you meet the pharmacy, baby stuff and greeting cards. Then a massive veg section, fresh meat, dairy. Then frozen, then breads and stuff, nuts, flour, and right to the back - the processed crap.

Our horrible little lidl. Same, huge veg at the doors, then fresh meat, then bakery, then dairy, most procesed crap at the back with frozen and booze.

Asda, same. Although the fresh bakery is pushed to the back with the processed goods.

Sainsbury's, massive veg as you walk in, dairy, fresh meat, etc. All packaged stuff towards the very back end.

M&S, same. Crap is at the back with booze.

Booths - huge veg and salad at front, although the ultra processed stuff here is next line along!
So Booths is dicing with it, really, possibly urges consumers to the back for fresh meat and dairy as they care about you getting your steps in Grin

Whenever I read about UPF's online, both the UK and US always complain that the bad stuff is intentionally put at the front. Well, no. Even Tesco removed the tiny 'on the go' choc shelf from the front and slapped it at the back.

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TroysMammy · 31/08/2024 08:19

I haven't noticed but I have noticed that some supermarkets have offers on things like multi packs of crisps, biscuits and pop.

Gawjus · 31/08/2024 08:13

BigDahliaFan · 30/08/2024 20:33

Yes people stock up on virtuous veg that then turns into fridge soup. Near the tills are the sneaky stuff...the chops etc.

What's wrong with chops?

Aladdinscarpet · 31/08/2024 08:10

The supermarkets employ psychological tactics to increase their sales. My Tesco has a small amount of cheap ultra processed special offers at the door then you are forced through fruit and vegetable and meat and dairy aisles before any of the crap. Lidl and Aldi have all the good stuff around their middle aisles of doom. All trying to increase sales of stuff that we don’t need. This isn’t a myth supermarkets admit to it.

Mynewsofa · 31/08/2024 08:06

My large supermarkets start with the non-food stuff. Clothes, books, electrical etc then fresh fruit and veg then on to other stuff.

My smaller local ones start with fresh fruit and veg anf flowers.

ManhattanPopcorn · 30/08/2024 21:27

Upf is so pervasive that it now makes up most of every aisle except the fruit and veg. The dairy aisle, bread and freezer sections are full of it. Anything breaded or marinated in the butcher section will also be upf.

SleepwalkingInTesco · 30/08/2024 21:19

I'm glad they stopped putting the chocolate by the tills. I would always feel self conscious if I bought chocolate, like everyone in the queue would judge me for having no willpower!

Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 21:05

Now look, you'd need painkillers if you lived here!

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Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 21:05

Our Lidl has nut snacks and chewing gum at the tills now, or shit batteries and cloying scented candles.

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HappierTimesAhead · 30/08/2024 20:54

XenoBitch · 30/08/2024 20:51

And painkillers. Loads of painkillers in my local Lidl.

Show quote history

😂Yes, the ultimate health food.

XenoBitch · 30/08/2024 20:51

HappierTimesAhead · 30/08/2024 20:48

It used to be that all the chocolate and sweets was at the tills so while you were waiting to pay you would be lured in but the law changed so now it's all bottled water, nuts and dried fruit.

And painkillers. Loads of painkillers in my local Lidl.

SunnyDaySummer · 30/08/2024 20:50

I think this changed about 10 or 15 years ago, if you are young you might not remember but there always used to be chocolate bars and sweets etc right by the tills.

longdistanceclaraclara · 30/08/2024 20:48

Chocolate / sweets haven't been at the tills for ages.

HappierTimesAhead · 30/08/2024 20:48

It used to be that all the chocolate and sweets was at the tills so while you were waiting to pay you would be lured in but the law changed so now it's all bottled water, nuts and dried fruit.

Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:47

In response to those asking about whether it's US or UK, I have noticed it online when looking at nutrition and UPF's.
Many definitely are American but there are plenty on the UK reddit subs too.
Perhaps some people prefer to presume, rather than take notice.

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Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:45

God no, just NO to poo shops! Grin

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Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:44

Thanks everyone, I didn't know they were working by rules, although had a vague idea. I wondered wy M&S and Tesco were always shifting stuff around...

Funny though that after assessing all of our local large stores, Booths is the worst for it.

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HobnobsChoice · 30/08/2024 20:43

I always think of the Eddie Izzard sketch about supermarket layouts. Fresh fruit and veg at the front so you think "this is a fresh shop. Everything here is fresh" you don't put loo roll at the front because then people think "this is a poo shop everything here is made of poo. I'm not shopping here, I'm going to another shop on Azerbaijan"

AhBiscuits · 30/08/2024 20:40

Supermarkets always have fruit and veg first don't they? I haven't heard of junk at the front.

Izzymoon · 30/08/2024 20:39

Whenever I read about UPF's online, both the UK and US always complain that the bad stuff is intentionally put at the front. Well, no. Even Tesco removed the tiny 'on the go' choc shelf from the front and slapped it at the back.

Maybe you’re only reading US centric things. I’ve never heard anyone complaining about junk food being at the front of a supermarket, it has always been produce in the UK.

Junk food was usually placed near tills as a last minute grab, but that’s now illegal hence why it’s ‘healthy’ stuff there instead.

Your Tesco store is not being virtuous, it’s also illegal to have chocolate at the front which is why they have moved it to the back.

nomorezoflora · 30/08/2024 20:39

Mm. Said co-op isn't tiny but it's not large, perhaps it's just under the designated size. Aldi and Lidl aren't much bigger.

Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:38

Bedtime91 · 30/08/2024 20:37

All stores over a certain size have to follow 'HFSS' regulations (high fat, sugar, salt) which means products that meet certain criteria are not allowed to be displayed in certain zones. I.e within a certain radius of the entrance/exit, the tills and the aisle ends.

These regs are relatively new (last couple of years), I work for a big supermarket in the team that decides store layout and it was a lot of work!

That's interesting because little Spar's are horrendous for putting shit at the front, now that I recall.

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nomorezoflora · 30/08/2024 20:38

My local co-op didn't get the message. As you walk in, the lunch deal stuff is there but right in front of you is a stand of donuts and bags of traybake type stuff. Between there and the fruit and veg of the main store is another stand of Pepsi Electric, crisps, boxes of chocolate and pink fizz. And an icecream freezer.
After that it's just the usual arrangement.

Original poster
SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:37

Well let me say that Booths in Cumbria and the north west in general always have side facing shelves near the tills stuffed with sweets, chocs and energy bars.
Bloody Booths!

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Bedtime91 · 30/08/2024 20:37

All stores over a certain size have to follow 'HFSS' regulations (high fat, sugar, salt) which means products that meet certain criteria are not allowed to be displayed in certain zones. I.e within a certain radius of the entrance/exit, the tills and the aisle ends.

These regs are relatively new (last couple of years), I work for a big supermarket in the team that decides store layout and it was a lot of work!