AIBU to think that there is no need for seperate aisle sections in supermarkets for different ethnic foods?

[winterhill]

In our Tesco we have an Asian section and a Polish section but surely instead of having a special aisle for these foods it could be incoprporated in the types of food section eg all the spices together rather than having some spices together and then the Asian spices in a different place Same with things like Polish biscuits and breads Why can't they just be in the biscuit and bread aisle?

[QueenOfCats]

Because its easier to go to the correct aisle when they're separate? I buy from the Asian and Polish sections - I'm glad they're separate, it's far easier

[Sallyingforth]

I'm all in favour of the separate displays. Much more useful and interesting to browse through different products rather than have unusual items lost amongst the usual stocks.

[ivykaty44]

I like the ethnic food section - as the tinned foods are cheaper than in the other section The lentils are also about 200% cheaper than in their rightful section and the coconut milk is also much cheaper.

[ivykaty44]

Oh and supermarkets get paid for shelf space so that is why the ethnic section is segregated as the big players like heniz and schwarts spices don't want to pay a premium for shelf space and have other cheaper brands littering the surrounding space

[ConfusedPixie]

I like it. I never saw it until I moved to brighton even though there was a massive polish community in my home area before. having it in it's own section makes me stop and check it out, and likely to add to the shopping basket. If the biscuits were with the biscuits I would never try them as I don't go down the biscuit isle!

[ivykaty44]

As for whether you like how a supermarket lays out its store is immaterial, a supermarket has spent thousands of pounds looking in to how to lay out their shop to get the best possible amount of money from you the customer - not to please you

[ChippyMinton]

YABU
Why does it bother you?
Our Asda has several sections including Polish, Indian, Kosher, Halal, even Irish (Taytos and red lemonade!). I assume the supermarkets have sound commercial and customer-care reasons for doing so.

[Willabywallaby]

Coconut milk powder is my find in the world foods bit, great stuff.

[EduCated]

I've always assumed its more for marketing purposes than anything, so they can try and attract Polish/other international shoppers by tempting them in with their own special section, by which point they'll end up doing most their shopping in there.

[HECTheHallsWithRowsAndFolly]

It does make it easier.

All the gluten free stuff is together. Far easier than going round looking for the gf pasta, the gf biscuits, the gf bread...

[Strawhatpirate]

YABU It's the best aisle in the supermarket!

[bruffin]

In Tesco its called the World food aisle, not ethnic

[SoupDragon]

Ethnic/non-western is being pedantic for the sake of it IMO. Everyone knows what is meant by "ethnic food" in this scenario. Besides, it also has Caribbean food in it which is, I think, WEstern.

[SoupDragon]

No idea what it is actually called in Waitrose though - I just think "Oh, I must check the ethnic bit"

[GrrrArghZzzzYaayforall8nights]

Soup - Depends on how Western is defined - geographically, yes the Caribbean would, but commonly it means countries with a Western Europe model. Again, confusing, showing how important language can be (as other Western countries, geographically or otherwise, use different foods) which is why I prefer Imported foods as a catch all term with everything divided by specific area of origin.

[SantyClaws]

We have the 'international' aisle, and then it has banners along it separating the diff parts of the world. I think it's a good idea.

And as someone said above, lots of the tinned stuff is half the price. The Indian spices are waaaay cheaper than those rip off jars

[squeakytoy]

My supermarket says "international foods". I cant see a problem with it being a separate place. If you go overseas and the shop sells british produce, it is usually grouped together for ease of browsing.

[LoopsInHoops]

Live abroad, and just love the 'european' section of supermarkets here. It's soul destroying moving to a country and spending hours reading every bloody label in the shop carefully to figure out what you can cook.

[Bue]

If they get rid of the 'international foods' section they'll probably raise the prices of all the products in it! Seriously, coconut milk is half the price of the stuff across the aisle!! And the supermarket thinks I'm not onto their tricks...

[snuffaluffagus]

I live being able to go straight to the Irish section of the 'foreign' aisle and getting my club orange and Barry's tea etc, it's just easier. Otherwise how would I know what other things from 'home' were available without searching the whole shop?

[pigletmania]

It's just easier, supermarkets are hard enough to find things. If you are looking for something specific, it's easier to find

[NotGoodNotBad]

"surely if you need veggie sausages you would just go to the sausage section and look for the veggie ones the same as looking for cumberlands or venison ones, it's not as if they touch each other, they are all wrapped up."

As a veggie, I hate having to go in the meat aisle and hunt around the piles of dead bloody animal parts look there for my veggie sausages.

[StrawberryTot]

Noisytoys you get a whole free from isle!?!?! I'm so jealous my local supermarket has the tiniest section allocated to free from!! But on the subject of the work food aisle, it's awesome for the other half who loves a bloody good curry.

[StrawberryTot]

World obviously not work. Damn you autocorrect!