Not true in the slightest. A supermarket's biggest enemy is waste. They do not want waste. The ideal supermarket would operate at zero waste. The entire buying of consumables and what they look like, size and feel is driven by consumers. Nothing more, nothing less. The whole reason they introduced aesthetic standards in the first place is because consumers do not buy the 'ugly' veg. The same people who sign this survey are the ones who would only choose the most pleasing to the eye products. FACT. I personally know people involved who appeared on screen and absolutely no threats - veiled or otherwise - were made to the parsnip farmers. No contact was made with the parsnip farmers regarding the filming. It was completely fabricated for the programme. They, Hugh and the BBC have been asked to provide details of what was in this supposed threats, times and record of calls, and they cant. As one of those representing Morrisons said on camera said "if we're so awful, why do they keep selling to us? They can stop anytime they choose." Off camera, Hugh was the nicest most charming man possible with Morrisons. He stated he knows it is all consumer driven but as soon as the camera came on then that doesnt make a good story does it? And the parsnip farmers are really struggling arent they. i mean, they're left penniless and essentially live in a tinpot terrace....
Well they have stopped supplying them now, haven't they, they had to shut down due to having to throw twenty tonnes of parsnips a week into a skip. I've no idea where their house is, but as they're now unemployed, I doubt they're spending the winter in the Caribbean. Ironically, it seems Morrisons have backtracked and have announced they will be selling packs of ugly veg from now on, it's a shame the parsnip family couldn't hang on a little longer. I've sold to supermarkets, they're utter ****s.
They had to throw parsnips away because consumers have dictated what they want to buy. Just playing devil's advocate here but if I had a business with that much waste I'd look to diversify. Why didnt they make soup from the unwanted veg? Or washed and chopped frozen parsnips? Or indeed any other product where the consumers wouldnt be put off by the original 'ugly state'? Morrisons havent backtracked at all, they were selling ugly veg months before the tv broadcast. They've trialled parsnips, courgettes, carrots and peppers. Customers didnt buy them. I assume with your hatred of supermarkets and their buying policies you refuse to shop there. Good for you.
I suspect there's a limit to how much parsnip soup you can flog, the waste went into animal feed, but it had to be sold for far less than it cost to grow. You've got no option but to shop at supermarkets, they've put all the local shops out of business.
Someone is selling parsnip soup and frozen pre prepared parsnips and doing well out of it. I'm guessing it's someone who diversified their business model. Ahhh so the supermarkets who everyone is complaining about here and signing the petitions against are the very outlets that everyone went to for cheap goods with huge ranges, free parking and all under one roof cos they preferred them to local shops and traditional markets which in turn put them out of business. Hmmmm.
Yup, people are lazy and have very low standards. They're quite happy to have battery farmed chickens pumped full of water as long as you can get two for a fiver, or to have all their clothes made by children in Bangladesh, so long as they cost less than a tenner. I find the general public as a whole to be most disappointing.
So in summary you agree with me then - this entire situation that everyone is complaining about has been brought on by themselves
I'd put it slightly differently, I think the great unwashed have ****ed the job up for the rest of us.
I spent a good chunk of my career at Board level in major retailers (not supermarkets) and can 100% confirm that they treat suppliers like sh*te but what they sell the punters is what demand dictates, how else would they maximise sales and profits? We buy basics/value veg because they are almost always chopped up so it makes no difference what shape they are to us but I have seen loads of shoppers avoiding 'ugly' fruit & veg from the loose displays, sometimes even if they are cheaper. So I don't think it i only the retailers that are to blame, even though they are a bunch of sh*ts
