Do you shop at M&S? Please could you stop?

volver

I don't think its stupid travelsafar.

There is a general misunderstanding of how this business works, I think. M&S have already stopped sending product to the Russia stores, they did that on the 3rd March. And although I don't know for sure, I'm going to guess that a lot of the food product sold in Russia is actually manufactured there, possibly under licence to M&S who will have audited the manufacture at some time in the past.

So M&S can tell other companies to stop using their branding, and whatever, but if the companies don't agree to do it, M&S would have to take legal action against them, and that's not quick.

I think probably most people are aware that M&S don't actually manufacture much themselves, especially food. There's another thread going about a particularly ugly dress being sold by M&S at the moment, which is actually made and marketed by a Norwegian company, and only sold by M&S.

I understand how it works. I also know that M&S are the only company (and the others are franchised as well) to take no action. As I said Burger King are promising any profit made in Russia to Ukraine charities. Nothing from M&S

On Radio 4 this morning a business correspondent said the M&S Russian franchise is owned by a Turkish company.

I understand how it works. I also know that M&S are the only company (and the others are franchised as well) to take no action. As I said Burger King are promising any profit made in Russia to Ukraine charities. Nothing from M&S

M&S have not "taken no action"

Several people on this thread have demonstrated the action that they have taken, which is in the public domain.

And sorry, but if you think M&S supply raw material, you don't know how it works.

Is locally grown food not raw material volver?
I notice you don't mention the charitable donations.
Have you got shares in M&S?

There are so many businesses that are franchises without many people being aware of the fact.
The franchisee pays to use the name of a particular company but has to abide by the rules of the licenced name owner.
It would be a lot simpler if, as in years gone by, that M&S products were made and supplied from the UK instead of China, India, Romania etc then they could stop supplies and as others have said , M&S would be liable for huge fines for not holding to the franchise agreement. Not sure that M&S would be able to pay that at this moment as they are still struggling financially.

No, no shares, but my FIL used to run a factory that supplied food products to M&S, so I've got an inkling of "how it works".

BTW, if the food is locally grown, it'll be Russian, won't it? Or Turkish.

Any more questions?

volver

No, no shares, but my FIL used to run a factory that supplied food products to M&S, so I've got an inkling of "how it works".

BTW, if the food is locally grown, it'll be Russian, won't it? Or Turkish.

Any more questions?

It will still be being marketed and sold under the M&S name. They could stop that. Still no answer about charity.
Although franchises are independent businesses they still receive support in the form of marketing, advertising and other things. That's why it's a brand name. They could remove the brand support.
You may have family connections but I thnk the Ukrainian minister probably knows more about it than you. Particularly as the same organisation operating the Russian stores operates the Ukranian ones.
As she said every penny you spend there contributes towards buying bullets that shoot Ukranian children

^It will still be being marketed and sold under the M&S name. They could stop that. Still no answer about charity.
Although franchises are independent businesses they still receive support in the form of marketing, advertising and other things. That's why it's a brand name. They could remove the brand support.^

Yes they could. They could ask them to stop using it and not send them any more marketing material, then start legal procedures. And then when the owners of the Russian stores ignore them, what then? Send round a chap in a suit to tell them off?

Charity donations? No idea. But I'm not going to make assumptions, unlike some.

You may have family connections but I think the Ukrainian minister probably knows more about it than you.

I'm sure the Ukrainian Minister has been spending a lot of time delving into M&S's business models lately.

Or maybe not.

volver

^It will still be being marketed and sold under the M&S name. They could stop that. Still no answer about charity.
Although franchises are independent businesses they still receive support in the form of marketing, advertising and other things. That's why it's a brand name. They could remove the brand support.^

Yes they could. They could ask them to stop using it and not send them any more marketing material, then start legal procedures. And then when the owners of the Russian stores ignore them, what then? Send round a chap in a suit to tell them off?

Charity donations? No idea. But I'm not going to make assumptions, unlike some.

It's not an "assumption" it is a direct reponse to a Ukranian minister on QT who left her war torn country and came to the UK to talk about what is happening. And she said "Every penny you spend contributes to bullets that shoot Ukranian children"
I don't think she just "assumed" that!

She would have been better off directing her anger at Germany who is still,purchasing gas and oil from Russia, and has not sanctioned two Russian banks in order to pay for said gas and oil.

(Yes I am aware that they have stood down the new pipeline)

Selfish as it may be there’s a limit to how much I can give up. I do my best but that’s all I can do.

GrannyGravy13

She would have been better off directing her anger at Germany who is still,purchasing gas and oil from Russia, and has not sanctioned two Russian banks in order to pay for said gas and oil.

(Yes I am aware that they have stood down the new pipeline)

But she wasn't in Germany she was in the UK. What's the point in talking about Germany? Of course they should do something but are you seriously saying she shouldn't talk about other things, things that her audience can act on?

Do you know I thought as grandmothers everyone would welcome the chance to do one small thing that would demonstrate their feelings and maybe add to the destruction of the Russian economy. I'm shocked by some of these responses.

I feel angry about Germany looking after itself, never mind anyone else. They were very slow to react about the pipeline too.

trisher

GrannyGravy13

She would have been better off directing her anger at Germany who is still,purchasing gas and oil from Russia, and has not sanctioned two Russian banks in order to pay for said gas and oil.

(Yes I am aware that they have stood down the new pipeline)

But she wasn't in Germany she was in the UK. What's the point in talking about Germany? Of course they should do something but are you seriously saying she shouldn't talk about other things, things that her audience can act on?

M & S appear to have done all they can legally.

We love chicken kiev, but in all honesty I cannot be doing with the fuss of making it from scratch anymore. I will not stop buying their Bistro Kievs, nor shall I stop shopping there for items that I can only purchase in a M & S Food Hall

I will look into making a Ukrainian Charity as the recipient of my Sparks Card points.

trisher

Do you know I thought as grandmothers everyone would welcome the chance to do one small thing that would demonstrate their feelings and maybe add to the destruction of the Russian economy. I'm shocked by some of these responses.

trisher you have absolutely no idea what other GN posters are doing for Ukrainian Charities, the majority of people have no need to post their good deeds for a virtual pat on the back.

Me too GG. Especially since our local Waitrose closed I’ve shopped more than ever in M+S for food. There are things I can get there that I can’t get elsewhere. I do go to Sainsburys for a big shop, but I visit our local M+S more than ever.

trisher

volver

^It will still be being marketed and sold under the M&S name. They could stop that. Still no answer about charity.
Although franchises are independent businesses they still receive support in the form of marketing, advertising and other things. That's why it's a brand name. They could remove the brand support.^

Yes they could. They could ask them to stop using it and not send them any more marketing material, then start legal procedures. And then when the owners of the Russian stores ignore them, what then? Send round a chap in a suit to tell them off?

Charity donations? No idea. But I'm not going to make assumptions, unlike some.

It's not an "assumption" it is a direct reponse to a Ukranian minister on QT who left her war torn country and came to the UK to talk about what is happening. And she said "Every penny you spend contributes to bullets that shoot Ukranian children"
I don't think she just "assumed" that!

Well I just watched the MP on Question Time, because I wanted to hear what she actually said. Yes, M&S was mentioned by name.

I have no doubt that every single person here wants to do everything they can to help Ukraine. But I remain to be convinced that Ms Vasylenko is on top of all the business models of western companies whose brands are still visible in Russia.

And I'm afraid that the OP is a combination of 3 different things that Ms Vasylenko said. She did not say that they are still paying taxes there and she did not say that by shopping at M&S you are buying bullets to kill Ukrainian children.

So maybe that's what you believe you heard trisher, but that is not what she said.

I haven’t seen any shocking responses

It’s clear from other threads most of us are supporting Ukraine in the best way for them.

This is what she said^Every penny spent on anyone that stays in Russia, pays taxes there, is buying bullets that kill Ukrainian children.^
link
twitter.com/GraemeDemianyk/status/1504603122278318084
M&S use your money to pay taxes in Russia. You are funding bullets to kill Ukranian children

M&S use your money to pay taxes in Russia. You are funding bullets to kill Ukrainian children

No they don't.

No I'm not.

Sometimes I wonder why people spread misinformation about things, then I hear this.

And you can stop right now suggesting that my actions, or the actions of anybody else on here, are killing Ukrainian children. That can stop right now.

And in case you're still wondering about charity donations, here a pic from their twitter account.

I didn't suggest it volver it is a quote from Lesia Vasylenko on QT. Check out the link. Those are her words.
Perhaps she is wrong, perhaps she isn't. Perhaps she realises that unless more is done to destroy the Russian economy the war will go on longer and she is just asking you to do your bit.
Perhaps ending a war is better than just donating to alleviate the consequences of it.

I didn't suggest it volver it is a quote from Lesia Vasylenko on QT. Check out the link. Those are her words.

Those are not her words. I checked the link and the few minutes before and after it by watching the actual program.

Perhaps you can educate us all with the mechanism whereby M&S pay taxes in Russia?

volver

^M&S use your money to pay taxes in Russia. You are funding bullets to kill Ukrainian children^

No they don't.

No I'm not.

Sometimes I wonder why people spread misinformation about things, then I hear this.

And you can stop right now suggesting that my actions, or the actions of anybody else on here, are killing Ukrainian children. That can stop right now.

And in case you're still wondering about charity donations, here a pic from their twitter account.

Thank you volver it verifies what I understood about their Sparks Card Charity.