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Original poster

Shame on you Sainsbury's

197 replies

JumpLeadsForTwo · 01/12/2021 07:15

Went into our local middle sized Sainsbury's yesterday and just had to complain. One end of the fruit and veg aisle which had previously had a variety of veg had gone. Replaced by Christmas offers for huge boxes of crisps and biscuits
I know they are just trying to push their Christmas sales, and that people will buy them, but come on, there is the whole store to use.

OP posts:

Peaseblossum22 · 01/12/2021 08:33

They move everything before Christmas because it encourages people to walk the aisles again looking for their regulars. they will then be more likely to make impulse buys or see things that they would not otherwise have done . Its a way of boosting sales

IntermittentParps · 01/12/2021 08:33

@JumpLeadsForTwo

Yes I complained as I couldn't buy what I wanted to. I know it's all marketing, but I get annoyed that these big companies try to sell us overpriced "healthy" food that is anything but, and then remove a chunk of actually healthy food to sell instead. With the rise of obesity, leave the Christmas junk in the Christmas aisle/ with the actual crisps and biscuits. I'm not saying get rid of it altogether- I like crisps and biscuits as much as anyone, but in moderation. I don't need a box of 40 packets of crisps instead of my veg to make soup. The poor teenager at customer services was a little bemused at my rant!!

i think you're getting a rough ride, OP, and you make some good points. There is a certain hypocrisy in supermarkets jumping on the fruit and veg/healthy eating/plant-based bandwagon while on the other hand continuing to push less healthy foods.

Moonface123 · 01/12/2021 08:34

Maybe shop on line then ?
l work in a supermarket you can bet your bottom dollar come xmas eve, endless complaints regarding lack of festive items, not fruit or veg.
Make the most of it as supermarkets have huge changes on their agenda.

megletthesecond · 01/12/2021 08:35

Isn't it partly because they're low on veg and want seasonal non perishables in that space?

DreamingofGinoclock · 01/12/2021 08:36

@JumpLeadsForTwo

I don't understand why so many of you are saying complaining was unnecessary. Completely different obviously, but if generations of women hadn't complained about inequalities, life would be very different for the majority of us. Obesity abs lifestyle related health problems is a huge issue in the developed world. I don't understand why more people don't complain!!!

I get what you are saying (the issue doesn't bother me but I can see why it would bother others) ...but I think you complained in the wrong way ... A letter to head office would have been better...I doubt the poor teenager on customer services will have escalated further x

ssd · 01/12/2021 08:38

"The poor teenager at customer services was a little bemused at my rant!!"

My ds works in a supermarket. After each shift he always has a rant himself about customers having a go at him about stuff completely outwith his power.

And he's not even peri menopausal

Whatevernext1 · 01/12/2021 08:43

I work in a supermarket and it has been hell during this pandemic! I am sick of moaning busybodies like you! Seriously get a life,if this is the sort of thing you have to worry about you are doing very well!
In my store we simply haven't had a decent supply of fruit and veg and more often than not a lot that does make it to store is near enough rotten and the dates have been rubbish! This is also not a good thing but would you rather we filled the area with that rotten fruit and veg?!
I had a lady complain last week that we didn't have enough Christmas decorations. We really can't win. I don't normally comment on these threads because people like you have no idea.
I suggest you use a local farm shop for your future fruit and veg needs.

StarryNightSparkles · 01/12/2021 08:44

Staff and management in supermarkets have no say on the layout of goods. They are sent a floor plan from head office. Plus take into account covid/Brexit so lack of items and more things getting moved around to make shelves look full.

Michelle Obama
Jamie Oliver
Half arsed attempts by Governments
Plus many more have been in talks for years with all shops regarding obesity and stock displays.

I will look forward to watching Sky breaking news that Sainsbury's are completely overhauling their business plan because you had a rant at a poor teenage member of staff 😕

Drumshambo · 01/12/2021 08:45

Shame on you 😠. You ranted at a teenager on minimum wage doing his job! Did that give you a bit of a warm glow? Do you have any concept of how marketing works op?
Nobody will care about your stupid complaint. They hear inane rantings like this every day from.People like you with too much time on their hands. Poor retail staff having to listen to this shit!

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 08:45

@Sparklingbrook

How embarrassing for you. I am sure they’ll be busy changing it back now after your complaint now though.

Well once the new food promotion laws come into effect in October next year they won't be able to pile "junk food" high in front of doorways, at end of aisles and by tills anymore.

The OP has more than a point and I am surprised people think she's being unreasonable. You don't replace veg and fruit with junk food.

It must have been a big job to do it actually as the fruit and veg displays are very different to the normal shelves.

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 08:46

You ranted at a teenager on minimum wage doing his job

Well firstly you don't know that it was a teenager.

And secondly Sainsburys do not pay minimum wage. They actually don't pay badly at all.

And thirdly you don't know that the OP ranted.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 01/12/2021 08:46

I think our local store are doing this because they’re low on stock. In the fresh food aisles, there’s a massive display of wine right now, which isn’t usually there, because they don’t want empty shelves.

Sorry, I forgot this was MN. I mean OMG fat people biscuits etc etc.

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 08:46

Why replace fruit and veg? Why not replace crisps and biscuits with Christmas crisps and biscuits?

Because the fruit and veg is often front of store and thus one of the first things you see.

I don't need a box of 40 packets of crisps instead of my veg to make soup.

just pointed out that there were healthy items missing from their store and replaced by unhealthy food

That isn't what happened. They haven't removed any veg, they just don't have it anyway. There are lots of empty spots in the FnV aisles at both my local stores.

Deeandwizzy · 01/12/2021 08:48

"Sainsburys Customer Service is awful"

I always message them with any issues. They are great and always sort things out straight away,

BobLemon · 01/12/2021 08:48

YABU to think that complaining the way you have will have any effect whatsoever.

The range of products sold and where they are placed is decided and designed by a remote team who may well have never ever set foot in the shop. The poor teenager may have no idea that team even exists. Plus… Sainsburys is a business. They operate off of tiny, tight margins so you are able to buy food at the prices you do. So they need to apply their expertise to maximise returns wherever possible. How does this not occur to people?

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 08:48

@ColinTheKoala

You ranted at a teenager on minimum wage doing his job

Well firstly you don't know that it was a teenager.

And secondly Sainsburys do not pay minimum wage. They actually don't pay badly at all.

And thirdly you don't know that the OP ranted.

Well, the OP who was there said it was a teenage so 🤷🏻‍♀️

DismantledKing · 01/12/2021 08:50

@ColinTheKoala

You ranted at a teenager on minimum wage doing his job

Well firstly you don't know that it was a teenager.

And secondly Sainsburys do not pay minimum wage. They actually don't pay badly at all.

And thirdly you don't know that the OP ranted.

Did you not read what the OP said? She mentioned the words ‘teenage’ and ‘rant’.

amsadandconfused · 01/12/2021 08:50

A bit much to be having a go at some poor teenager at customer services!! Remember the shop floor workers are tiny wheels in a massive machine! I am always conscious of these poor people…getting rubbish money for shitty work which does involve stroppy customers.

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 08:50

OK just read the thread again. I think it's fairly unlikely they'd have a teenager on customer services - in our store it's usually someone more experienced. Maybe someone in their early 20s.

Did you really rant OP or did you just complain - or indeed make a comment? There is a difference! Shoppers are allowed to comment! It is about time that staff passed on concerns and more to the point those sitting in the ivory towers in Holborn (in Sainsburys's case, I've walked past their office a few times) listened to their staff.

Original poster

JumpLeadsForTwo · 01/12/2021 08:51

Where has anyone got that I was rude or shouted?! I am the most laid back person usually, and my "rant" is probably a bit of poetic license for the internet. I have never once been rude or shouted to anyone in retail, let alone a teenager. I simply pointed out that I wasn't happy with the missing veg being replaced by such large boxes of crisps when they could have put them anywhere else.
No I'm not daft enough to think that people won't be picking up these types of food around Christmas, but the nudge theory is proven - make these foods more obvious and easy to pick up, and people will take more. We are in the midst of a pandemic with increasing restrictions. The numbers who have died are appalling, and increased deaths and serious illness are clearly linked with obesity and lifestyle related health problems. Why is it ok to accept that big food companies can shift our consumption to more processed foods? Yes I do agree that tweeting the CEO may be more productive!

OP posts:

ColinTheKoala · 01/12/2021 08:51

Sorry, I forgot this was MN. I mean OMG fat people biscuits etc etc

Not MN. I refer you to: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348226195

coming into force next October.

ssd · 01/12/2021 08:52

@ColinTheKoala

You ranted at a teenager on minimum wage doing his job

Well firstly you don't know that it was a teenager.

And secondly Sainsburys do not pay minimum wage. They actually don't pay badly at all.

And thirdly you don't know that the OP ranted.

The op said

The poor teenager at customer services was a little bemused at my rant!!

withlotsoflove · 01/12/2021 08:52

You really felt it was that important to be such an ass?
Did you really think they’d move all the crates so YOU could get your veg?
This is so idiotic.
I work in customer services/ we’d have called you all shades of shit when you’d gone & marked you down as some kind of tit!
As for ranting at the poor teenager…FFS - you really showed your colours there.
Do you realise how unnerving it is to have someone rant at you while you just have to put up with it? A teen?
Behave yourself next time you go shopping & hang your head in shame for your stupid rant!

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 08:53

Where has anyone got that I was rude or shouted?!

From the fact that you said you had a rant! You now say that was "poetic license" but you can't be surprised that people read that and assumed you had actually ranted.

EvilPea · 01/12/2021 08:53

Lots of supermarket have stock in strange places now.
I think it’s because they are trying to fill gaps where they are struggling with stock

May or may not be the case here

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