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?

I buy regularly at waitrose and get loose veg, proper meat (not precooked), and other essentials regularly. 4 bags probably costs £50-60 max. If you cook from scratch and avoid processed shite it does offer better value because grocery / meat items do tend to last longer.

I don’t understand why anyone should be made to feel any pressure to justify where they shop for food, though?

Once a year I do a summary (rather rough) of expenses, income etc. Today I finished it. This year for the first time the food spending is my card ( before the pandemic when I was not driven almost insane and unable to think and breath in a mask I used cash so it was hard to work out)

16 Jan to 16 May 2021 is 1645 at Waitrose x 3 ( to get the annual likely figure) = 5000, same period £400 tesco same 4 months and 350 sainsbury = (those 2 total ) 2250 plus waitrose 5000 = 7250 so say about £8k a year I would guess by the time I have paid the twins back if they buy food I agree to refund and if we allow for times I pay in cash or the veg shop they like to use sometimes instead. I am assuming the last 4 months are typical of a 12 month period. Does not include any trips to coffee shops. It might got up from July when away at university child is back home for next course (will live at home next academic year as will his twin who does now already).

Mind you if I were making any progress towards losing a stone the cost of a lettuce only diet (only joking)... might have been a lot less.

Not sure the husbandry standards-based argument is a good reason to shop at Waitrose. I only buy meat which I believe to be raised with good standards of care . Every supermarket I have bought from, even 'metro' and 'local' offer grass raised or free range on meat and eggs.
As another poster mentioned, if this is important then buying directly, online or from a farmer's market, from an ethical farmer helps to support them and puts the money straight back into their business.

@martakeithy

Not sure the husbandry standards-based argument is a good reason to shop at Waitrose. I only buy meat which I believe to be raised with good standards of care . Every supermarket I have bought from, even 'metro' and 'local' offer grass raised or free range on meat and eggs. As another poster mentioned, if this is important then buying directly, online or from a farmer's market, from an ethical farmer helps to support them and puts the money straight back into their business.

There is a minimum set of standards to be able to label meat or eggs as "free range", but Waitrose standards are considerably higher than that. Unfortunately there isn't enough information on food labels to really compare, but there are independent organisations that do this.