I don’t understand Waitrose.

[JensonsAcolyte]

I just went to the big Waitrose because they stock gochujang paste. I thought I may as well get a few bits, chicken, cereal, crisps, pasta etc. All the sort of stuff that isn’t dinners but filler food.

£90!

For four bags of shopping.

And it didn’t feel special or posh or magical or anything.

Why do people shop there? Is it actually a snobbery thing? We have a Sainsburys, Tesco and Lidl within a mile or so radius as well.

The only thing it had going for it for me was the aforementioned chilli paste that I couldn’t get in Tesco. But other than the Ingredients range, the other ranges they offer aren’t very wide.

Will anyone admit that they shop there out of snobbery/classism?

Agree with @Malin52 about £2.50 chickens.
Although I love Nutella.

I'm not in the market for 'Frosties' or 'Nutella' so I couldn't comment on that kind of thing.

I am pretty certain that Waitrose battery chickens haven't had a better life than Aldi battery chickens but they still cost more
@Pinchoftums. Not so sure about that, there is still a pecking order in chickens that are not free range or organic. It's all about numbers per square metre.

But I won't and don't buy battery farmed chicken. The issue is that other supermarkets rarely have many free range or organic poultry.

@Pinchoftums and @lazylinguist on the chickens, Waitrose only stock free range eggs (even on their basic range they're free range, and they have much higher animal welfare across all their ranges www.waitrose.com/home/inspiration/about_waitrose/about_our_food/chicken.html The Duchy Organic is very high welfare, but their other meats are way higher than what you'd get in Tesco or Aldi etc

Waitrose is great for chicken but Morrison's is best for lovely cuts like beef shin and ox cheeks. Cuts that other supermarkets never sell.

I am only in the market for certain food stuffs too. I have my own quail in the orchard and make my own truffle butter.
This is actually true, apart from the orchard bit, it’s just a scruffy bit of spare garden..

The quail lay every day but it takes ages to crack enough for a sponge cake.

Animal welfare.
Mask enforcement.
Polite, helpful staff.
Range of products.
Quality of products.
Animal welfare.
Ethically traded/made products.
Wider, lower aisles.
The freebies.
The John Lewis items.
The sushi freshly made.
Trust.

Waitrose has more choice and if you need niche condiments it is good, although in London we are lucky to also have excellent greengrocers where you can buy at least five types of mirin wine etc. We shop at Waitrose and Aldi and delis.

Not sure if I am posh because I shop in Waitrose or a bit naff and untrendy as I had never heard of gochujang paste before. I had to Google it

Where I live I have choice of only Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. I do shop in Waitrose - much better fruit/veg and selection of pretty much everything. I buy branded and own brand and premium stuff there. It is simply my
Closest big supermarket and I love the range and quality. I can afford if it is a bit more expensive than Sainsbury’s (I guess it
Might be ?). So no that’s not snobbery. Not sure anyone would shop somewhere purely for snobbery ??

[quote 21Flora]@ssd it is employee owned so staff are treated well and usually get quite large bonuses[/quote]
BTW there will be no bonus this year, due to the closure of some John Lewis stores.

They do treat us well though. I had to shield twice in 20/21, they were amazing,

Good quality food and good animals welfare. Even Waitrose’s essentials range has much better welfare than in other supermarkets. Their Wheetabix family pack is £2 cheaper. The meat and fish counters are great in terms of stock, quality and value.

Also, the fact that you were looking for gochujang paste means you belong in Waitrose

@Pinchoftums

I am pretty certain that Waitrose battery chickens haven't had a better life than Aldi battery chickens but they still cost more.

As @Pinchoftums points out there are no battery chickens.

Waitrose chickens that are indoor reared have more space, better bedding, better light and ventilation, less ill health eg foot problems caused by overcrowding & soiled bedding. So as I said earlier it's about ethical animal husbandry.

I personally don't give my children meat from anywhere else.

Nice shopping experience and meat is good

We shop there purely because the food is much better quality. I recently shopped at Aldi (closer to my work so thought I’d give it a try) and couldn’t believe how awful the fruit and veg are.
I’d rather pay an extra £10-15 a week on good food than have to throw away £20 of cheap food because it’s inedible.

@Pinchoftums

I am pretty certain that Waitrose battery chickens haven't had a better life than Aldi battery chickens but they still cost more.

www.waitrose.com/home/inspiration/about_waitrose/the_waitrose_way/waitrose_animal_welfarecommitments.html

Scroll down to find no beak trimming and lower than standard stocking density, amongst other things.

gochujang paste

Yep - not surprised you ended up at Waitrose 😂😂

Definitely agree about the quality of the fruit and veg and meat being much better.
Shopping there is just a much pleasanter experience. Wider aisles, very clean, never packed, quick checkouts. I was on a budget for a years but I could never see tge appeal if Lidl or Aldi. The meat is disgusting and the fruit and veg goes off very quickly.

YABU, I mostly don’t shop there because it’s pricey, but they do the nicest range of home baking goods and their fresh fruit, veg, herbs etc is always the best. Their meat and fish is the best of the supermarkets too, and I like that they still have a knowledgable in house fishmonger in most branches.

The quality of Waitrose food is often very good. I shop there for my main shop but too up at Tesco and Lidl

I go there for the special the calm neat Wide aisles atmosphere that The Sainsbury's across the Road didn't have , and never in Aldi etc . its not snobbery at all as I never mention my trips there to anyone ... I only go when I'm frazzled by the kids and need one or two things I volunteer to get the milk and take an hour to myself wafting slowly looking at different nice stuff , can't afford to do a shop there but I they do s lush veggie green Thai ready meal I love

I shop there cos it’s the nearest and I can walk there but do try to do bigger shops at cheaper places when I can be arsed to drive further.

Waitrose do a lamb fillet thing, red cabbage side dish and really nice naans though that I always stock up on. Everything else I could buy elsewhere....I’m just too lazy most of the time. If Aldi or Lidl was closest I’d go there the most.

Gochujang is the best. That and kimchi.