A winter of very expensive heating and little food?

Jaxjacky

growstuff have you tried using a wholesaler? It does mean forking out a bit more up front though, but tends to be cheaper overall. I use these www.harvestfinefoods.co.uk/
Its being mooted that CO2 may be unavailable to stun animals prior to slaughter, so they may be culled and buried. Excuse my ignorance but ‘slaughtered’ or ‘culled’, it’s meat, so I don’t understand why, either way the animals are killed, they can’t enter the food chain?

The animals have to be butchered and kept in cold storage. Most farms don't have the facilities to do that. There will be some small farms who are licensed but I imagine that it is not economical for most of them.

Here in France there are some English farmers who rear pigs, have them slaughtered and butchered and make bacon, gammon and sausages on their farms. There are also several English people who keep a few sheep. When the time comes a licensed butcher will come to their homes and kill the animals and then prepare them for the freezer.

GC has woken from his nap so I will push him up to Aldi’s. Will report back on shelves/shortages, are pictures required as proof?

It's interesting to read that some people would like to see the utilities re-nationalised. It would also be interesting to know how many GNers bought shares in the newly nationalised industries. I was opposed to it and so didn't but some of my friends did and made a decent profit when they sold them shortly afterwards.

GrannyGravy13

Those who are calling for utilities to be nationalised, this would mean that they would be run by the Government, the one that a lot of posters despise. Just a thought…

Governments seem to have become very good at putting their responsibilities at arm's length. I don't think it would need to be run directly by Whitehall.

It is a fact that we are talking about necessities - heat, light, water and breathable air. It is also a fact that you cannot use Conservative capitalism to run these. The Conservatives are not using their usual extreme capitalism. They have put in the cap that is causing or assisting the small companies to fail.

Perhaps you could tell us what you think can be done with these industries?

Thanks I did not even realise there’s different areas of threads I have only ever clicked on trending as I thought that was today’s forums! You live and learn just need to find out now find the different topics to look at lol

Dinahmo

It's interesting to read that some people would like to see the utilities re-nationalised. It would also be interesting to know how many GNers bought shares in the newly nationalised industries. I was opposed to it and so didn't but some of my friends did and made a decent profit when they sold them shortly afterwards.

To think it was promoted as widening the share owning population. They mostly ended up in the hands of the already wealthy.

Like all those council houses sold on at a profit to by to let landlords.

Privatisation of utilities has never made sense to me.

Obsession with 'the market' hasn't exactly enriched our lives, has it?

The animals have to be butchered and kept in cold storage. Most farms don't have the facilities to do that. There will be some small farms who are licensed but I imagine that it is not economical for most of them.

I have known people who raised rare breed sheep and cattle and sold the meat from them. The slaughter and butchering was all done by abattoirs and butchers. It was reasonably profitable because they could charge high prices for 'speciality' meat. And it was mostly a hobby rather than a business. Ordinary large scale livestock farmers couldn't do this.

Ok I have returned from Aldi there were no empty shelves, pork, chicken, vegetables, tinned produce all plentiful. I looked in the freezers where they had Turkeys, Turkey Crowns along with pigs in blankets. We even managed to get figs and mangos.

The aisle of wonder was brimming over as they have a toy and toddler event.

The shortages appear to be regional.

The shortages appear to be regional.

Oh well, that's OK then. Phew.

Alegrias1

^The shortages appear to be regional.^

Oh well, that's OK then. Phew.

Sorry I should have realised only negative posts are appreciated nowadays on N & P threads.

Unfortunately I cannot lie, to make others happy.

No, don't want anybody to lie.

Maybe just to realise that saying "well everything's fine where I am" is just a wee bit insensitive to those who are finding it difficult to source the food they need in their area?

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.

I think it may have been on this thread that someone posted M & S had effectively cancelled Christmas sorry to tell you that is incorrect.

I have had two emails one regarding their Christmas Food items and one regarding no n-consumables.

Very nice looking and very tempting ?

GrannyGravy13

Alegrias1

The shortages appear to be regional.

Oh well, that's OK then. Phew.

Sorry I should have realised only negative posts are appreciated nowadays on N & P threads.

Unfortunately I cannot lie, to make others happy.

I'm glad you're not having shortages, GG13, it's just that your post reads a bit as though you think other people are making it up/exaggerating. And it reads a bit 'I'm alright Jackish'

MaizieD that was not my intention, if the shelves had been empty I would have posted that information.

It’s just interesting (to me anyway) that there appear to be shortages/empty shelves in some areas but not others along with variations from supermarket to supermarket. Personally I am pleased Aldi has full shelves, as I am also pleased M & S Food Hall was fully stocked as it means people both ends of the economy are able to get their groceries.

It doesn't matter if our local stores are stuffed to the roof. My local Lidl is half empty, the Tesco seems to be OK. But I'm not posting anecdotes either way. The stores and the authorities are telling us that there are, and there will continue to be, shortages. Saying that my local store seems to be doing fine isn't really relevant. Not at all.

As for the Aldi vs M&S observation, well I'll just not comment.

Alegrias1

It doesn't matter if our local stores are stuffed to the roof. My local Lidl is half empty, the Tesco seems to be OK. But I'm not posting anecdotes either way. The stores and the authorities are telling us that there are, and there will continue to be, shortages. Saying that my local store seems to be doing fine isn't really relevant. Not at all.

As for the Aldi vs M&S observation, well I'll just not comment.

This is a discussion forum, it seems you are trying to police or one might say prevent discussion if anything you feel is irrelevant

Obviously you are not interested in anyone else’s point of view/observations. Which begs the question why are you commenting on posts that do not meet your criteria

I’ve just been to M&S. Chicken shelves almost empty. Shelves with pork emptying. Other ready meals shelves empty.
Staff pulling stuff to the front f other shelves to make them look full.

People seem to be buying toilet rolls again??.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD that was not my intention, if the shelves had been empty I would have posted that information.

It’s just interesting (to me anyway) that there appear to be shortages/empty shelves in some areas but not others along with variations from supermarket to supermarket. Personally I am pleased Aldi has full shelves, as I am also pleased M & S Food Hall was fully stocked as it means people both ends of the economy are able to get their groceries.

Errm! Doesn't Fortnum & Mason deliver in your area?

We have a local Aldi, but no M & S food hall, so I guess the common people are winning for once. Unfortunately, the local Aldi has some serious gaps.

Alegrias1 perhaps you could post a list of guidelines to help others, that we we could only post in a manner which you judge to be really relevant ?

Whitewavemark2

I’ve just been to M&S. Chicken shelves almost empty. Shelves with pork emptying. Other ready meals shelves empty.
Staff pulling stuff to the front f other shelves to make them look full.

People seem to be buying toilet rolls again??.

It's all that cabbage and sprouts they've been forced to eat. (Apart from Thorpe Bay,of course.)

Dinahmo

It's interesting to read that some people would like to see the utilities re-nationalised. It would also be interesting to know how many GNers bought shares in the newly nationalised industries. I was opposed to it and so didn't but some of my friends did and made a decent profit when they sold them shortly afterwards.

I vaguely remember an ‘ask Sid’ campaign over British Gas shares, we never bought any. I have just done meter readings and went online to send them. Thankfully we are on a fixed price tariff until July next year and I looked to see about fixing further ahead but would have had to pay over £40 a month more which is a huge amount. That gives me an idea of how much prices have gone up and will go up further. It is very concerning and will hit those on benefits, low paid workers and people on pension credit very hard, that along with food shortages will be very difficult for a lot of people.

You’re right Alegrias1 - even Boris has acknowledged that there will be shortages so it must be true….

I’ve stocked up on dog food, and one thing for myself while it’s still available, without which my life would be so much poorer, I don’t care if everybody says that’s wrong, as otherwise I’m being entirely responsible and we are changing what we eat out here in the sticks.

growstuff that’s why I posted my findings, we are in the same County but with different levels of stock in one shop.

Is it different shopping patterns, logistic problems or are shoppers reacting to the news bulletins?

GG13, I am merely posting my point of view/observation that someone who is apparently not having any trouble sourcing their groceries, might just have a wee bit of empathy with those who are.

You are of course entitled to post what you like. But I seriously can't see what the point was of telling us you got figs and mangos when there are people who are having trouble finding milk. So if someone points out your insensitivity, I'm afraid that counts as discussion.

There is undoubtedly a discussion to be had about whether some regions are suffering more than others. But repeatedly telling us how your local shops are bursting with all kinds of products is just a little bit inconsiderate, don't you think?

Do the managers of individual supermarkets have buying power? I mean can a manager at say Waitrose prioritise the essentials and reject the luxury, unnecessary items? At least that way it would be fair to all shoppers.
My Waitrose was well stocked today and albacore tuna in jars was back. I haven't been able to get a vileda mop head in there for weeks, but that's not the end of the world.