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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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DancefloorAcrobatics · 30/08/2024 20:37

After the actual boring food shopping that requires list and concentration comes the fun stuff: a little bargain here, a sneaky treat there...

fashionqueen0123 · 30/08/2024 20:37

They always used to put stuff like that on the end aisles not at the front. That’s where bogoff and offers go. However a while ago supermarkets all had to move stuff around as the government banned high sugar things etc from being on the end aisles. Our local Sains had to rearrange loads and put signs up saying why.
They also don’t have all the chocolate bars and stuff near the tills like they used to after so many parents complained.

Left · 30/08/2024 20:36

There always used to be shelves full of single chocolate bars near the tills, this changed due to a ban in 2022.

XenoBitch · 30/08/2024 20:34

Every supermarket I have ever gone in has the fruit/veg at the front.

What pissed me off was during Covid.. when my local Tesco made people queue in store before they could even start shopping and the start point was in the booze aisle. Awful for people struggling with addiction.

Arlanymor · 30/08/2024 20:34

It’s more near the tills where I live…

SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:34

Ah, I see that now, there are those side facing shelves near the tills, mostly frozen in these parts, though. Nothing too awful that I've noticed.

The 'virtue' idea has chilled me a bit..

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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.

SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:32

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/08/2024 20:31

The idea is that people feel all virtuous and healthy after putting some veg in the trolley and then think 'Oh, a treat!' once you've got past the dairy, meat and approach the sausage rolls.

lol, cynic Grin

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NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/08/2024 20:31

The idea is that people feel all virtuous and healthy after putting some veg in the trolley and then think 'Oh, a treat!' once you've got past the dairy, meat and approach the sausage rolls.

SnufkinsSpiritAnimal · 30/08/2024 20:30

I'm not complaining, its a good thing!
I am moaning about the myth perpetuated that states otherwise. I am in the north west though, but have noticed similar in the midlands and north east.

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