Sainsbury on Blackfriars Road

I do wish some of these supermarkets would realise they can't please everyone and make a decision to leave some items out of their stores. By selling such a wide range of products, they don't really satisfy many people. I went in tonight to do some shopping as I have been away for a while, and I came out with next to nothing; they are more like corner shops than supermarkets. I spoke to the manager and requested a better/bigger selection of meat and fish and pointed out that the cabinet was actually smaller than the dog food cabinet. It's a pity that these stores don't communicate with each other so they don't all sell the same ranges and then we could nip to them all and get a wider choice.

It's something we keep moaning about, but the replication of these stores is such a shame, when they are all part of the same company and could so easily agree that stores in easy walking distance specialise in different things, as well as selling the basics like milk and bread. Given that there are 4 Sainsburys in a 15 minute walk, at least one of them could sell fish fingers.

I went in yesterday, too. It carries pretty much the same range as the two other Sainsburies within five minutes walk.

One and a half aisles of snack food and less than a single cooler unit of fresh meat. No lamb at all and no offal.

You can't buy a cooking apple. Peppers only come in packets of three. There's a reasonable choice of beer, but the wine range is very down-market.

It's pretty much impossible to put together anything but the most basic meal from there.

Pointless.

That cashpoint has improved my life!

Haven't used it yet

I am continuing to use Charlies corner shop where possible.

I just hope that independents like him can hold on against the corporate onslaught that's blighting the area!

bigphil wrote:

Haven't used it yet
I am continuing to use Charlies corner shop where possible.

I just hope that independents like him can hold on against the corporate onslaught that's blighting the area!

I haven't used the shop either,I was in Charlies last night at about 6pm and I was the only one in there,could be a coincidence but I do think they will take a huge hit for the irst few months until the novelty wears off.
When the Tesco opened in the OKR I thought it would kill all the mini marts down there,but it didn't,although i've not been down there in a while.

I asked in Charlies what the impact had been of the Sainsbury's opening and they said that their takings had been down 80% on the first day and similarly down since. They said they'd anticipated a dip at first but that if things didn't improve once the new office tenants were in, that it would be very hard to stay open.
In that small stretch of road, the council has overseen the shutting down of four independent businesses - Imbibe, dry cleaner, blackfriars cafe, newsagent - the opening of two big commercial franchises, and is now responsible for making vulnerable two further small businesses, Charlie's and Cafe Pronto.
The council claims in the draft Blackfriars SPD that it wants -
'Blackfriars Road to have its own distinct identity as a lively boulevard'
'encourage flexible space for a range of different businesses, helping both small and larger businesses benefit'
What a load of PR cobblers. What the council has done, and is doing is, getting rid of the heritage buildings (distinct identity) and replacing them with massive budget hotels (novotel) or generic boxy crap flats (that can be found anywhere from Birmingham to Woolwich) and replacing small businesses with the usual suspects, Sainsbury and Pret.

Mrs went into Sainsburys yesterday to get some bread,all of the bread on display (wholemeal)were on the last day of their sell by date,she was not impressed.

Hetty, so right

the only thing i can add to Hetty's comments is that cafe pronto is the front for masters catering which is by no means a local business. they have a rather large corporate kitchen business in the city ( you wanna see prontos basement!)

however in this little corner, Charlies corner shop, The laughing gravy, The Crown pub are all independants that are not owned by large corporates.

im sure that there are other small businesses in the area that would love the locals to support them by not buying at tescos, sainburys, etc...
i know that for some its a price, ease thing, but if you can , look after the local shops otherwise soon you will have nothing but bland!

regards
phil ( not as big any more due to the wifes diet :-) )