A couple of things to clarify first. I’m referring to Tesco North Berwick which is one of the smaller format stores. I am also not a “typical” shopper in that I only go there once a month. Mos of my other food shopping is done at local shops in the High Street where there are only 4 chain stores: The Co-op; Boots; Greggs and Poundstretcher.
Over the last two trips to Tesco I’ve noticed its become more difficult to find Fairtrade marked goods. Admittedly this can be put down to the size of the store and various promotions at different times but, could it be down to more regular shoppers not going for Fairtrade?
Today, there are no Fairtrade bananas. OK it could be a seasonal product but that’s the first time I’ve gone in and not been able to buy. The ground coffee section has been cut by around a half in size, no more CafeDirect, there is own label and Percol and Taylor’s but they’re are strength 3 – I prefer 4. I don’t drink tea but CafeDirect is there. There’s only one bar of Divine chocolate (milk), Green and Black’s is there with several but, they’re all on the top shelf – out of the sight line. They did have their own label 1 litre cartons of FT orange juice next to Del Monte but I didn’t spot them this month. Oh, and they do stock Ben and Jerry’s.
I can go the the Co-op but they tend to stock their own label stuff. There is the Earth Matters shop but that no longer stocks much in the way of food stuffs these days. They’ve opted to sell clothing and handicrafts as they’re more profitable than groceries and they think FT ones are more readily available.
So, I’m struggling to get my normal FT fix from a “big name” supermarket, cant’ really get them from the smaller shops and may have to resort to buying on-line and the environmental costs of transport to my home.
