Shame on Tesco - Removing Irish Brands from its Stores

ardmacha · 29-04-2009 7:22pm

I think Tesco's view of things Irish is very clear

From BBC NI

Tesco kids had to remove GAA gear

A group of bag packers representing a GAA club were told to remove their club shirts at Tesco, it has emerged.

The children from St Comghall's club were taking part in a charity bag pack at Tesco in Antrim town.

However, after "very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone", the company said it asked for team shirts to be removed.

A parent of one of the children involved said the shirts did not feature "anything contentious".

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is an all Ireland sporting and community organisation which in Northern Ireland is overwhelmingly supported by Catholics.

In the past some unionist politicians, including Northern Ireland's sports minister Gregory Campbell, have criticised it for not doing enough to improve community relations.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "It is our policy to ask that the groups wear their uniforms so customers will know the organisation for which they are collecting."

"This gives the customer the option to go to another checkout if they do not wish to support this particular organisation.

'Deviated'

"On Sunday, we had a number of very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone, including one from a political representative regarding the wearing of the GAA shirts while the group were collecting.

"It is understandable that our duty manager then deviated from Tesco policy and asked that those packing should do so in plain T-shirts."

ejmaztec · 29-04-2009 8:35pm

ardmacha wrote: »

I think Tesco's view of things Irish is very clear

From BBC NI

Tesco kids had to remove GAA gear

A group of bag packers representing a GAA club were told to remove their club shirts at Tesco, it has emerged.

The children from St Comghall's club were taking part in a charity bag pack at Tesco in Antrim town.

However, after "very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone", the company said it asked for team shirts to be removed.

A parent of one of the children involved said the shirts did not feature "anything contentious".

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is an all Ireland sporting and community organisation which in Northern Ireland is overwhelmingly supported by Catholics.

In the past some unionist politicians, including Northern Ireland's sports minister Gregory Campbell, have criticised it for not doing enough to improve community relations.

A spokesman for Tesco said: "It is our policy to ask that the groups wear their uniforms so customers will know the organisation for which they are collecting."

"This gives the customer the option to go to another checkout if they do not wish to support this particular organisation.

'Deviated'

"On Sunday, we had a number of very vociferous complaints both in person and on the phone, including one from a political representative regarding the wearing of the GAA shirts while the group were collecting.

"It is understandable that our duty manager then deviated from Tesco policy and asked that those packing should do so in plain T-shirts."

I expect the manager wanted to survive the trip home, or he wouldn't have strayed from Tesco's policy.

darc · 29-04-2009 10:25pm

3 things

1. Penneys.
It is owned by Associated British Foods which is owned by the Canadian businessman Galen Weston. It is operated from its headquaters in Mary St. Dublin 1.

2. British Isles - This is a geographical term, just like the Irish Sea. It has no political connections and describes geographically the islands of Britain & Ireland.

3. GAA jerseys - these are used by a minority of nationalists to antagonate unionists in Northern Ireland as such can lead to offence - similary I expect that tesco would not permit union jack t-shirts to be worn at a collection.

Still no word of any Irish brand being deleted from Tesco - Not even the evening hysterical has made any comment!!

gerrycollins · 29-04-2009 10:35pm

Tesco are not removing "irish" products from their shelves.

They are basically buying international brands suchs as Mars Cadburys Persil Coca Cola etc from UK based suppliers thus avoiding the irish offices/distribution in what they claim will help reduce prices long term.

however this means that the eg Mars sales team in Ireland will not be helping Tesco with merchandising and promotions. tesco will use the savings made to reduce prices and fund promotions.

the likes of Irish made products obviously not available through an english distributor will still be purchased here in Ireland however these products are not main stream as ireland produce very little grocery products.

Hagar · 29-04-2009 10:46pm

darc wrote: »

3. GAA jerseys - these are used by a minority of nationalists to antagonate unionists in Northern Ireland as such can lead to offence - similary I expect that tesco would not permit union jack t-shirts to be worn at a collection.

They are also used by a lot of kids playing football.
Sometimes the simplest answer is the one to go for, Occam's Razor.

ardmacha · 30-04-2009 1:15am

3. GAA jerseys - these are used by a minority of nationalists to antagonate unionists in Northern Ireland as such can lead to offence - similary I expect that tesco would not permit union jack t-shirts to be worn at a collection.

There is nothing offensive about a GAA jersey, which is not to say that an offensive person may not sometimes wear one. So if gurriers wear runners, then someone collecting cannot wear runners. The proposition here is that a GAA jersey is offensive whereas other sports garb isn't. That is simple discrimination. A team should be able to wear their own kit in their own town without condition. One wonders if you can object to bag packers wearing turbans and whatnot.

Royale with Cheese · 30-04-2009 1:26am

You can't buy Rudd's sausages or rashers in tescos, nor can you get Bombay Pantry or Balti House curries.

Dunnes for me.

Ddad · 30-04-2009 1:39am

Jaysus I hate Tesco, big corporate behemoth. I don't shop there as I always feel screwed after. Sure the milk and bread are cheap but the fruit and veg suck. The meat is mediocre, adn I know for a fact that many of the people on the counters can't differentiate one end of a cow from another. Here's the scenario, my local butcher can tell me what breed of cow I'm buying from him, when it was slaughtered and we talk of local news and his meat is cheaper and without question better. He's a decent man and on the occasion whan I've forgotten the wallet; no bother, I'll catch you the next time. Ditto my local greengrocer.

Most Tesco staff wouldn't give me the time of day and on the occasion when my friend who shops there every week forgot his wallet I had to call down to him with the cash so he could get his shopping. They had no fealty to him.

Its cheaper to shop local and in season and better for the local community than to pour money into this company. Tesco always trot out the line about job creation when they open up in a town but watch all of the smaller businesses crumble. The feckin supermarket giants are a cancer on society...down with that sort of thing I say.

ch750536 · 30-04-2009 7:24am

Hagar wrote: »

Wikipedia can be made to say anything. Now back on topic please.

Aaah, he's just grumpy as he just found out he lives in the British Isles.

Hagar · 30-04-2009 8:53am

No I don't, I live in the South of France.

Nelson%20Muntz.gif

20goto10 · 30-04-2009 9:01am

If you don't like it don't shop there. End of story. I don't hear anyone complaining about German produce in Lidl and Aldi. It's only because it's British. STFU and go shop in Dunnes "the difference is we're a rip off" Stores if you have a problem with it.

Jip · 30-04-2009 9:48am

ardmacha wrote: »

I think Tesco's view of things Irish is very clear

Hagar wrote:

Well at least we know who they are not prepared to upset.

Seriously, I can't get over some people. Tesco seems to be the big bad wolf these days around here as they're currently in the headlines alot but this craziness is not restricted to Tesco, it spreads to every company that's UK based. Take a look for example at the Dunnes thread that's cutting a huge amount of staff hours and there's barely any venom there, a company may I remind you have the black mark on their record for having one of, if not the, longest strikes in recent Irish history.

People are so insular these days and yet had no problems with such companys back in the days of the so called Celtic Tiger.

Can I remind you ardmacha that this happend in a Northern Irish store which is not all roses and doves despite the good Friday Agreement, not an Irish one where things are a hell of alot different. Now say this happened in a Dunnes store and there is the possibility that it could, would you be saying the same thing, what ridiculous comments.

I'm as Irish as they come but I can still see the bigger picture, something that seems to be getting smaller and smaller for alot of people.

ddad wrote:

Jaysus I hate Tesco, big corporate behemoth.

What the hell do you think Dunnes, Lidl, Aldi are, corner shops ? The rest of your post is laughable, you think Dunnes will let you pay later if you forgot your wallet ?

I do hope you all now go home this evening and remove the majority of t.v. and radio stations from your televisions and radios, after all, they are all run by big corporations. And leave your cars behind if you have any, they've been sold to you by big bad corporations.

As I said in another thread, the worse thing about recessions is that everyone become a bleedin socialist.

parsi · 30-04-2009 10:10am

darc wrote: »

3. GAA jerseys - these are used by a minority of nationalists to antagonate unionists in Northern Ireland as such can lead to offence - similary I expect that tesco would not permit union jack t-shirts to be worn at a collection.
!

They are also the official club wear of teh organisation that was _permitted_ to collect.

parsi · 30-04-2009 10:12am

ejmaztec wrote: »

It's guaranteed, take my word for it......................I know about these things cos I'm on the internet.:cool:

Ahem.

It's now Thursday - no sign of any plague. Just typical - one can't believe everything one learns on the Internet. Ah well another hard lesson learned.

Anyone for the last few (hundred) anti-bubonic plaque suits ?

ch750536 · 30-04-2009 10:27am

Jip wrote: »

As I said in another thread, the worse thing about recessions is that everyone become a bleedin socialist.

Odd, I see that as one of the best things about the recession.

ejmaztec · 30-04-2009 10:28am

parsi wrote: »

Ahem.

It's now Thursday - no sign of any plague. Just typical - one can't believe everything one learns on the Internet. Ah well another hard lesson learned.

Anyone for the last few (hundred) anti-bubonic plaque suits ?

I had 3 million of those last week and couldn't sell one of them. For some unknown reason people were crying out for them a couple of days ago, and now I've got none left.

Thanks for your business.:P

Jip · 30-04-2009 10:28am

Bleedin socialist

newman10 · 30-04-2009 10:55am

ch750536 wrote: »

Odd, I see that as one of the best things about the recession.

It would be if most people understood Socialism

IIMII · 30-04-2009 11:03am

darc wrote: »

similary I expect that tesco would not permit union jack t-shirts to be worn at a collection.

No, they just display it on half the food items sold up there

Jip · 30-04-2009 11:12am

IIMII wrote: »

No, they just display it on half the food items sold up there

And Marks and Spencers display it on most of the food items sold down here. Your point being ?

ejmaztec · 30-04-2009 11:13am

IIMII wrote: »

No, they just display it on half the food items sold up there

Isn't that proportional representation?

IIMII · 30-04-2009 11:15am

Jip wrote: »

And Marks and Spencers display it on most of the food items sold down here. Your point being ?

Well having considered how this whole being offended thing works, I have to decided that I find it offensive that the union jack appears on any food products on this island

escobar · 30-04-2009 11:21am

rubadub wrote: »

Feck all difference, and it was for branded goods. I shop in tesco, dunnes & lidl. I get different things in different shops. Most is got in tesco as it is cheapest for what I choose. I like the fact tesco charge more for branded goods, the idiots who buy the likes of brand name bleach at €2 a bottle mean my tesco value bleach can be priced at 29c. You can shop extremely cheaply in tescos, many own brand items are actually cheaper now than they were in the 80's, yet many do not even think of that. The difference in price between brand names and own brands is massive compared to back then.

Tesco have a new low brand range of products out which are around the same price as the "value" range, but far better quality.

The survey shows that Tesco is dearer than both Superquinn and Dunnes with Dunnes being the cheapest. It's no wonder Tesco just announced record profits.....

As Tesco say themselves “every little helps”.

It seems though they were talking about their own profit margin and not their customers grocery bills.

It also said that Lidl / Aldi are the cheapest for non-branded goods.

rubadub · 30-04-2009 12:49pm

escobar wrote: »

The survey shows that Tesco is dearer than both Superquinn and Dunnes with Dunnes being the cheapest. .

Again, on BRANDED goods.

escobar wrote: »

It's no wonder Tesco just announced record profits.....

Again, I think that is great they make so much on branded stuff being sold to the ignorant, meaning they can sell other stuff so cheaply and still have great profits.

escobar wrote: »

It also said that Lidl / Aldi are the cheapest for non-branded goods.

As I said, I shop in several supermarkets and expect a lot of people do, I also have a good memory for prices, I buy certain things in certain shops where cheapest. I would like to see what non-branded stuff they selected. Take just a 800g loaf of white bread for instance, tesco have value, standard, premium, finest, baked in store, stay fresh, and I think at maybe 2 others. Same with pizzas and loads of other things, beans, nuts etc, they now have about 5 different own brands of similar size cheese & tomato fresh pizza, ranging from about ~90cent to ~€5.
Cheapest is not always best value either. I also find tesco seem to have more offers on branded stuff, I never really shop with a list so take advantage of these offers, many are phoney offers (i.e. was €5, now €4.95), you just have to watch out. Many of these surveys specifically ignore offers as a rule, that is certainly not the way I shop.

vibe666 · 30-04-2009 2:49pm

has anyone else noticed that all these "I've been reading boards for years but only decided to register today cos this is the first good thread evah" users all have a remarkably similar writing style?

i wonder if they are aware that a Mod could see the IP addresses used to post with?

Are there any mods around to check?

okay, so back on topic.

scaremongering aside, I see no evidence of anything other than tesco cutting out the fat lethargic middle man who can't/won't provide value for money, and buying and shipping their Irish stock themselves instead of relying on Irish distributors to supply them.

empty shelves could easily be explained by it taking time for tesco to sort out it's own distribution and an embargo by irish suppliers in an attempt to force tesco to keep using them.

sounds to me like the Irish distributors are either unwilling or unable to provide a competitive price/service to a major retailer.

businesses who are unwilling or unable to adapt to the changing marketplace wither and die, same as in nature. If they can't provide Irish products in the Irish marketplace at a competitive price then they have no business being in business in the first place.

times are hard and people will buy where it's cheapest. i don't see why a company should be any different. it's been said before, but if you don't like that practice then vote with your feet, but I for one will be buying everything I can where I get the best value for my money, be it at a local grocery store, wholesale butchers, up north or online. atthe moment, it isn't tescos, but if it ever was, i'd buy from them no problem.

the people that deserve to be in business because they offer the best value will get my money and the lazy suppliers who got fat from creaming it off the public during the celtic tiger years can either start offering good value products or go out of business for all I care and all the name calling and hollow (allegedly) patriotic flag waving in the world isn't going to stop me.

/rant

Tech3 · 30-04-2009 2:56pm

escobar wrote: »

It's no wonder Tesco just announced record profits.....

If you are referring to Tesco Ireland then yes they have announced profits this year. This purely down to new supermarkets open during the last year. If these are taken out of the equation there would have announced losses this year on last year.

noodler · 30-04-2009 4:49pm

ardmacha wrote: »

There is nothing offensive about a GAA jersey, which is not to say that an offensive person may not sometimes wear one. So if gurriers wear runners, then someone collecting cannot wear runners. The proposition here is that a GAA jersey is offensive whereas other sports garb isn't. That is simple discrimination. A team should be able to wear their own kit in their own town without condition. One wonders if you can object to bag packers wearing turbans and whatnot.

I can hardly believe they got away with this. Absolute disgrace.

vibe666 · 01-05-2009 9:22am

tech2 wrote: »

If you are referring to Tesco Ireland then yes they have announced profits this year. This purely down to new supermarkets open during the last year. If these are taken out of the equation there would have announced losses this year on last year.

did I not hear that they weren't legally obliged to break it down into how much was profits in Ireland so they didn't differentiate between what was on the mainland, north and republic?

Jip · 01-05-2009 9:52am

Yes, you're correct. But people seem to forget, or just plainly ignore, the fact that neither do Dunnes, Lidl or Aldi, not sure about the smaller players. In fact I'm not even sure if Dunnes announce any figures at all, don't think they do.

And when you say mainland, are we not already on the mainland or are you posting from one of the many dotted islands around us

vibe666 · 01-05-2009 11:29am

Jip wrote: »

And when you say mainland, are we not already on the mainland or are you posting from one of the many dotted islands around us

i was talking in 'Tesco' terms.

Traditional · 01-05-2009 11:32am

dont buy their maggot infested quick dinners , the sauces are full of rodents excriment .as reported in papers in uk

ch750536 · 01-05-2009 1:27pm

Traditional wrote: »

dont buy their maggot infested quick dinners , the sauces are full of rodents excriment .as reported in papers in uk

I bought some of their rodent excriment and it had a 6 pack of Stella in it. Imagine my shock.

GerardKeating · 01-05-2009 1:33pm

Brenan wrote: »

Tesco ARE removing Irish brands from their stores. By the way, Keating, this is my first post as it’s the first time I have felt strongly enough about something to get on and write a post

A week since this thread was started and not one single verified report of a single product removed from shelves in Tesco Ireland....

ejmaztec · 01-05-2009 2:10pm

ch750536 wrote: »

I bought some of their rodent excriment and it had a 6 pack of Stella in it. Imagine my shock.

Should have gone for the Ratatouille for the wholesome rodent goodness that he was talking about..

vibe666 · 01-05-2009 4:26pm

ch750536 wrote: »

I bought some of their rodent excriment and it had a 6 pack of Stella in it. Imagine my shock.

excrement and a six pack of p1ss then. :pac:

Sir Oxman · 02-05-2009 12:00pm

Irish Times

Irish Independent

Border stores & Douglas Extra for a trial period then, if successful, the rest of the country.

ch750536 · 02-05-2009 1:03pm

So, loads of apologies to the OP then eh guys?

Hagar · 02-05-2009 1:13pm

ch750536 wrote: »

So, loads of apologies to the OP then eh guys?

Not a chance, they just will quietly ignore the facts.
It won't stop them coming out shouting the odds next time though.:rolleyes:

ejmaztec · 02-05-2009 1:54pm

ch750536 wrote: »

So, loads of apologies to the OP then eh guys?

The OP should have come up with the "goods", so to speak, on day 1, but he didn't. Many people asked for brand details and didn't get any.

Tesco's Tuesday announcement should be interesting, to see how they're going to avoid shooting themselves in both feet.

Sir Oxman · 02-05-2009 2:00pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

The OP should have come up with the "goods", so to speak, on day 1, but he didn't. Many people asked for brand details and didn't get any.

Tesco's Tuesday announcement should be interesting, to see how they're going to avoid shooting themselves in both feet.

Did it matter that he name brands? He said it was going to happen and it looks like he was right.
The OP had inside info working for an Irish manufacturer maybe they didn't want to be identified by naming the brands his company makes? Maybe he didn't know the exact brands that are going to be downgraded or replaced?
Would the one-post pointers outters have believed him if he'd said Barrys Tea or whatever?
Too many people shot him down, IMO.

ejmaztec · 02-05-2009 2:35pm

gambiaman wrote: »

Did it matter that he name brands? He said it was going to happen and it looks like he was right.
The OP had inside info working for an Irish manufacturer maybe they didn't want to be identified by naming the brands his company makes? Maybe he didn't know the exact brands that are going to be downgraded or replaced?
Would the one-post pointers outters have believed him if he'd said Barrys Tea or whatever?
Too many people shot him down, IMO.

Yes, naming brands does matter, that's a given. He also said that it was already happening and he wouldn't have been giving anything personal away by letting us know specifically what had been removed from the shelves. It would have been something that any eagle-eyed consumer would have noticed.

I was sitting on the fence patiently waiting for some proof, and it never arrived. Most of the critics just wanted the same proof, whereas others decided to go on the offensive.

Sir Oxman · 02-05-2009 2:59pm

I'll have to agree to disagree with you.
He didn't name his company's brands because that could be identifiable, IMO.

And the logistics around this kind of change in supply demands that existing branded stock is rundown, redistributed to other areas a while before the stores affected actually rollout the new planogram, whic according to the IT is next Tuesday.

I wonder are any of the border stores opening tomorrow?

Sir Oxman · 02-05-2009 7:01pm

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0502/tesco.html

And we're off!

darc · 02-05-2009 8:27pm

I still disagree with the OP. Tesco are removing a range of brands from the shelves and replacing with lower price goods.

They are not specifically removing Irish brands but there will probably be Irish brands amonst all the brands being removed.

It is also currently only specific to border counties & one cork store mainly to compete with NI & also to test the reaction where NI is of no consequence.

Basically they are saying they are losing loads of business to NI due to price differences and due to big price differences people have loast brand loyalty, therefore they will give southern shoppers that same choice as NI at the same prices and see if it goes down well.

The OP is suggesting that just Irish brands are being withdrawn when it is more a general reconfiguration of the store & if certain Irish /International brands cannot compete on price then they're out.

Hagar · 02-05-2009 8:38pm

Would you not have the good grace grace to concede the point when the OP's point has been shown to be valid? The full extent of the changes will become obvious before too long.

noodler · 02-05-2009 8:40pm

darc wrote: »

I still disagree with the OP. Tesco are removing a range of brands from the shelves and replacing with lower price goods.

They are not specifically removing Irish brands but there will probably be Irish brands amonst all the brands being removed.

It is also currently only specific to border counties & one cork store mainly to compete with NI & also to test the reaction where NI is of no consequence.

Basically they are saying they are losing loads of business to NI due to price differences and due to big price differences people have loast brand loyalty, therefore they will give southern shoppers that same choice as NI at the same prices and see if it goes down well.

The OP is suggesting that just Irish brands are being withdrawn when it is more a general reconfiguration of the store & if certain Irish /International brands cannot compete on price then they're out.

Dangerous thinking. We are going to have to lower wages all over the country to make Irish food competitive then.

ch750536 · 02-05-2009 8:52pm

Darc is in the errr, dark.

1huge1 · 02-05-2009 10:31pm

noodler wrote: »

Dangerous thinking. We are going to have to lower wages all over the country to make Irish food competitive then.

That might not be the worst thing, that is gonna be the major advantage of this recession in my opinion, regaining out lost competitiveness.
I think thats one of the reasons they didn't drop the vat in the budget last month because they knew shops could afford to drop prices more and reduce their profit margins.

mike65 · 02-05-2009 10:34pm

noodler wrote: »

Dangerous thinking. We are going to have to lower wages all over the country to make Irish food competitive then.

and the penny drops! The ROI is overpriced to the tune of about 20%, for years this was concealed by the rising standards of living and the exchange rate but now the reality is starting to dawn. We are way too expensive but
still doing our best to pretend otherwise.

snubbleste · 03-05-2009 10:43am

Just re-read the OP's first post
He seems to got the news story accurate

Well done OP, shame on the rest of ye!

Brenan wrote: »

On the George Hook radio show yesterday, Dermot Breen – Corporate Affairs Director of Tesco Ireland clearly said that Tesco are not currently removing Irish brands from their stores and replacing them with International brands, however this is in fact happening now.

Maybe some journo will take up Dermot Breen on this issue?

Shame on Tesco - Removing Irish Brands from its Stores

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