Shame on Tesco - Removing Irish Brands from its Stores

ejmaztec · 26-04-2009 2:34pm

Moosh10 wrote: »

Not sure how anyone can start listing things as its only starting to happen - the real effects will be realised over the next few weeks.

Key thing is to undersand the power of Tesco in Ireland. If they remove an Irish brand to make room for UK stock the manufacturer obviously has then has less demand.

This 1n turn affects their capacity to produce. For example if they normally make 1000 & sell 1000, Tesco who are over 25% of market remove them. Suddenly they are not working to capacity & may be forced to pull certain iems as it just doesn't make sense to produce them whilst working under capacity.

This is I think why this thread was started, to let people know the ball has startd rolling...............

We only wanted at least one example to think about, but there still seems to be a reluctance to provide us with one. It can't be that hard, surely?

Hagar · 26-04-2009 2:48pm

Put yourself in Tesco's shoes. If they start buying in extra products for Ireland from suppliers that they already use in the UK they can get better prices from those suppliers than they could from their Irish supplier. It was bound to happen eventually.

Does nobody else remember the concerns voiced that this would happen when Tesco originally came to Ireland? Tesco were prepared to accept some loss of margin by using Irish suppliers to overcome the unexpected hostility they faced when they were setting up in Ireland. They hadn't anticipated it but they swallowed it down at the time. With the economy the way it is in Ireland and Britain they are no longer going to worry too much about a bit of public disquiet.

The honeymoon with Irish suppliers is over. The reality will become apparent as contracts with suppliers come up for renewal.

Steo46 · 26-04-2009 4:53pm

Nobody mentioned that Tesco employs lot of Irish people in their stores here.

GerardKeating · 26-04-2009 5:44pm

Steo46 wrote: »

Nobody mentioned that Tesco employs lot of Irish people in their stores here.

I don't think the OP is actually interested in facts...

Sir Oxman · 26-04-2009 6:06pm

As an aside, just because the posters who are saying Tesco are beginning the process of trunking in a huge amount of products from the UK have only just registered, that doesn't mean a thing.
Maybe they are longtime posters who don't want their posts tied to their place of employment however small a chance that may be.

I would suggest any readers keep an open mind - it will be interesting to see over the next few months what will unfold in the major retail market in Ireland.

Fluffybums · 26-04-2009 6:12pm

If the OP proves to be correct, stop shopping at Tesco and encourage your friends and relatives to stop shopping there.
If Tesco lose enough customers they will either pull out of the Irish economy or change their stock. If I were the CEO of Tesco I'd pull out of the Republic of Ireland, open a couple more stores on the border with big carparks and count the profit and reduced bad publicity.:rolleyes:

Sir Oxman · 26-04-2009 6:36pm

Why the hell would I want Tesco, who directly employ over 13,000 in the Republic, to pull out of the country?

I am interested in what's happening and will happen in the retail market in this country, most observers note that it's the distributors and importers that inflate prices enormously in this country - people are demanding lower prices now, the interesting bit is at what cost?

Ailish :) · 26-04-2009 7:07pm

I've been following all the replies on this and find it fascinating to see how the topic has changed to the validity of the claim. Just because specific products or brands are not named at this point, does not mean that there is no substance behind the claim that Tesco are going to move away from Irish suppliers. Let's not be a Doubting Thomas.

If if we cast our mind back to the Pork Recall in December...the Irish Farmers Journal reported on how Tesco wrote to Irish pigmeat suppliers, in an attempt to re-coup 'lost profit'. This came as a complete surprise, as it was a State Recall so any request for compensation should have been directed to the State, not the supplier. Pork suppliers who spoke to The Irish Farmers Journal did not want to be named, but expressed anger and decribed the behaviour as 'typical Tesco bullyboy tactics' (as per Irish Farmers Journal Jan 09).

The fact that they did not want to be named says it all. Irish suppliers are gently held over a barrell and there is a general acknowledgement that if one steps out of line, they should be ready to face the consequences. So for these reasons, I am not surprised in the least that products are not named.

It is true that Tesco provide employment to many Irish people, but the overall point is that it is extremely worrying to think of what lies ahead for Irish suppliers and their respective employees if Tesco roll-out these new plans.

P.S. Before anyone points it out, yes I am a new-bie and this is my first post! I regularly read but never felt the compulsion to post a reply until now.

ch750536 · 26-04-2009 7:50pm

Knowing pretty much all there is to know about tesco I believe I can shed some light on the situation here.

You see, Tesco is a monster in all senses of the word. It is a remorseless unforgiving beast that will not stop[ until it has 99% of the market (by their own words).

They are happy to cut off one of their own legs if it means they win in the long term.

They have nobody elses interests at heart other than its own.

To be honest, it is already too late. Too many suckers with clubcards.

ejmaztec · 26-04-2009 7:57pm

Ailish wrote: »

I've been following all the replies on this and find it fascinating to see how the topic has changed to the validity of the claim. Just because specific products or brands are not named at this point, does not mean that there is no substance behind the claim that Tesco are going to move away from Irish suppliers. Let's not be a Doubting Thomas.

If if we cast our mind back to the Pork Recall in December...the Irish Farmers Journal reported on how Tesco wrote to Irish pigmeat suppliers, in an attempt to re-coup 'lost profit'. This came as a complete surprise, as it was a State Recall so any request for compensation should have been directed to the State, not the supplier. Pork suppliers who spoke to The Irish Farmers Journal did not want to be named, but expressed anger and decribed the behaviour as 'typical Tesco bullyboy tactics' (as per Irish Farmers Journal Jan 09).

The fact that they did not want to be named says it all. Irish suppliers are gently held over a barrell and there is a general acknowledgement that if one steps out of line, they should be ready to face the consequences. So for these reasons, I am not surprised in the least that products are not named.

It is true that Tesco provide employment to many Irish people, but the overall point is that it is extremely worrying to think of what lies ahead for Irish suppliers and their respective employees if Tesco roll-out these new plans.

P.S. Before anyone points it out, yes I am a new-bie and this is my first post! I regularly read but never felt the compulsion to post a reply until now.

There are so many people hiding under the anonymity of the internet, we would all be stupid to believe anything that was unfounded. For all we know, the OP could be working for Dunnes, or any other Tesco competitor.

We still haven't had details of one single item removed from Tesco's shelves.

If someone posts that we're all going to die of the Bubonic plague at 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, are we supposed to believe them without any proof?

noodler · 26-04-2009 8:01pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

There are so many people hiding under the anonymity of the internet, we would all be stupid to believe anything that was unfounded. For all we know, the OP could be working for Dunnes, or any other Tesco competitor.

We still haven't had details of one single item removed from Tesco's shelves.

If someone posts that we're all going to die of the Bubonic plague at 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, are we supposed to believe them without any proof?

This Wednesday?

ejmaztec · 26-04-2009 8:07pm

noodler wrote: »

This Wednesday?

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

parsi · 26-04-2009 8:18pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

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

Irish time ?

ejmaztec · 26-04-2009 8:52pm

parsi wrote: »

Irish time ?

Yep, bad news travels fast.:eek:

talkingclock · 26-04-2009 10:05pm

A mate of mine knows someone who is a honcho in the plague business and my mate says that guy says it'll happen at 2.
i know this for sure because i know someone who knows someone! and it's true!

ejmaztec · 26-04-2009 10:26pm

talkingclock wrote: »

A mate of mine knows someone who is a honcho in the plague business and my mate says that guy says it'll happen at 2.
i know this for sure because i know someone who knows someone! and it's true!

I wouldn't believe anything that the Typhus man says, his credentials having been bought online for $10.

GerardKeating · 26-04-2009 11:27pm

gambiaman wrote: »

As an aside, just because the posters who are saying Tesco are beginning the process of trunking in a huge amount of products from the UK have only just registered, that doesn't mean a thing.
Maybe they are longtime posters who don't want their posts tied to their place of employment however small a chance that may be.

I would suggest any readers keep an open mind - it will be interesting to see over the next few months what will unfold in the major retail market in Ireland.

So you are saying that not only is the OP posting on a matter in which they have a stated vested interest, they might be another poster under and assumed name ?

rubadub · 27-04-2009 12:01am

Brenan wrote: »

My point is, I disagree with Tesco removing Irish brands from its shelves to make room for a larger selection of UK/International brands.

Well it makes perfect business sense to stock the most profitable items, whether you like it or not.

Brenan wrote: »

I can guarantee you Tesco are planning on removing hundreds and Irish produced products from its stores over the coming weeks and that is a huge concern for me and the thousands of other Irish jobs that are dependant on supplying Tesco (the biggest food retailer in Ireland) with Irish brands that Irish people have been loyal to for years.

Why would they remove brands if people still want to buy them? The fact is many companies cannot compete so simply have to find another business to get into. It is not viable to run a pineapple farm in Ireland, and I would have no sympathy for a farmer who did try and set one up and failed due to having to charge huge prices to cover his overheads. There should be no blackmailing guilt trip on people, making them feel they should buy Irish pineapples just to support a business which is clearly not viable anymore.

Superquinn are said to be removing Lyons tea, if they notice a dip in tea sales they might figure people are still buying it elsewhere, rather than buying a different brand.

allthedoyles · 27-04-2009 12:01am

Look everyone , We Irish buy most of our goods in UK stores like :

Penneys
Debenhams
Marks & Spencer
Dixons
Tesco
Ladbrookes
William Hill
Currys
Argos ..................the list is endless

Whatever happened to the advertisements for buying Irish and guaranteed Irish products

Queen-Mise · 27-04-2009 12:13am

allthedoyles wrote: »

Look everyone , We Irish buy most of our goods in UK stores like :
Penneys

Debenhams

Marks & Spencer

Dixons

Tesco

Ladbrookes

William Hill

Currys

Argos ..................the list is endless

Whatever happened to the advertisements for buying Irish and guaranteed Irish products

Have to agree with this, the main street in Ireland is not very different to the high street across the water. In my town we have Principles, Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis. UK products are all over the place.

But I do have to agree with the OP to a certain extent - there should be some attempt of large retail stores to source some of their products in Ireland. We can't buy goods if they are no jobs for us.

ongarite · 27-04-2009 12:28am

allthedoyles wrote: »

Whatever happened to the advertisements for buying Irish and guaranteed Irish products

Declared illegal by the EU as they promoted protectism and barrier to free trade.

Edit: Shouldn't both these supermarket threads be in Consumer Issues.

hussey · 27-04-2009 7:18am

any body else think that it is fishy that so many posters with < 10 post counts are on the first page blaming tesco?

darc · 27-04-2009 9:17am

Was reading in the sunday bis post yeaterday about haow Lidl & Aldi are stocking more brands than ever in their stores becasue Irish shopers want to buy brands. In Aldi over 20% of goods in their Irish stores are branded whereas in their european markets it is less than 5%.

Now - I'm no big fan of tesco & mega retailers, but they are good at what they do - hence their size. So whay would they fly in the face of every bit of retailing operation and withdraw brands people buy on a regular basis.

In the context fo the Irish market, it would be retail suicide - Tesco don't do retail suicide.

This is a non story

Harolds+ · 27-04-2009 7:33pm

I never buy english products

I always find them far more inferior than Irish ones

I am also aware that England has the highest amount of oestrogen in its water supply in Europe. So my boycott has been going on for many, many years and that includes its beers, biscuits etc

I never buy in Tesco's. However, I had no choice but to buy there last summer when I was renting (before buying my home in Harold's Cross) near St. Vincents Hospital and the nearest supermarket was Tesco's. I look back with dread shopping there and also living in an area full of aliens :mad:

ongarite · 27-04-2009 8:46pm

Nice to see your not a biased against English or any foreign nationals that happen to live near you.

Harolds+ · 27-04-2009 9:08pm

ongarite wrote: »

Nice to see your not a biased against English or any foreign nationals that happen to live near you.

Like I said, there is problems with the production of food in England and its deliberate boycott of Irish goods is reminiscent of the boycott of Irish products during the Troubles in England

ejmaztec · 28-04-2009 1:05am

Harolds+ wrote: »

Like I said, there is problems with the production of food in England and its deliberate boycott of Irish goods is reminiscent of the boycott of Irish products during the Troubles in England

Nothing like disinformation to pass the time.

Fluffybums · 28-04-2009 10:37pm

Had a look in Tesco in Waterford (Ardkeen), needed some shopping so had a look to see if there were any Irish brands still on sale. I found the following taking up the same shelf space (as well as I can tell on a casual glance) as always.
Odlums, Flahavans, Fallain,
Shamrock, Ballymaloe, Real Irish Food Co.,
Gem, Avonmore, Galtee,
Denny, Clonakilty, Shaws,
Irish Yogurt, Yoplait, Gateaux,
Ballyfree, Glenisk, Green Farm Foods,
Green Isle, Roscrea, Dairygold,
Dawn, Kerrymaid, Moy Park,
Connacht Gold, LowLow, Dubliner,
Barrys, Coolmore, O'Hara's,
Staffords, MiWadi, Kelkin,
Killeen, Tayto, Pat the Baker,
Irish Pride, Bewleys, Brennans,
Corrin Hill, Butlers, Cuisine de France

I have to say I had not realised just how many Irish brands were stocked by Tesco. I did see a few locals brands being discontinued (eg. Country Style processed meat products) but I also saw some Tesco own brands being discontinued so I'd infer that this was due to low sales. In addition a lot of their meat, fruit and veg (climate permitting) is sourced in Ireland (granted the whole island). Personally I try to avoid buying fresh foods not sourced locally as I think they are going to be fresher and have better food value if they have only had a few hundred than thousand miles to travel.

In summary, my casual look suggests that Irish brands are being stocked and sold. As a previous poster said, Tesco is not going to drop items that sell where ever they come from.

escobar · 28-04-2009 10:56pm

Harolds+ wrote: »

Like I said, there is problems with the production of food in England and its deliberate boycott of Irish goods is reminiscent of the boycott of Irish products during the Troubles in England

It is a disgrace......just what the Irish economy needs

.....I wonder if they employed Maggie Thatcher (prob the most qualified):D to oversee the trade war against Irish produce.

Tesco are the dearest supermarket anyway......Didn't they make record profits recently.Perhaps they're importing from abroad to continue their fine work in giving us cheap produce, although....

The National Consumer Agency survey they found Tesco's to be the dearest Quote below

''Tesco was the most expensive and the groceries had a price tag of €296.08.''

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0211/breaking45.htm

Hagar · 29-04-2009 12:05am

Fluffybums wrote: »

Odlums, Flahavans, Fallain,
Shamrock, Ballymaloe, Real Irish Food Co.,
Gem, Avonmore, Galtee,
Denny, Clonakilty, Shaws,
Irish Yogurt, Yoplait, Gateaux,
Ballyfree, Glenisk, Green Farm Foods,
Green Isle, Roscrea, Dairygold,
Dawn, Kerrymaid, Moy Park,
Connacht Gold, LowLow, Dubliner,
Barrys, Coolmore, O'Hara's,
Staffords, MiWadi, Kelkin,
Killeen, Tayto, Pat the Baker,
Irish Pride, Bewleys, Brennans,
Corrin Hill, Butlers, Cuisine de France

Yoplait is not Irish, Cusine de France, Bewley's, Tayto used to be but I wouldn't swear to it in court, Moy Park - Dungannon is British, Kelkin - International Brand, the rest I don't know for sure.

They may provide employment in Ireland but are they Irish?

/edit Tayto owned by Irish Snack Foods owned by Largo Foods - Still Irish TG

ejmaztec · 29-04-2009 12:13am

escobar wrote: »

It is a disgrace......just what the Irish economy needs.....I wonder if they employed Maggie Thatcher (prob the most qualified):D to oversee the trade war against Irish produce.

What trade war?

rubadub · 29-04-2009 10:40am

escobar wrote: »

''Tesco was the most expensive and the groceries had a price tag of €296.08.''

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0211/breaking45.htm

When comparing a basket of branded goods between Dunnes Stores, Superquinn and Tesco, the difference between the cheapest and dearest basket was €3.60 or 1.2 per cent. In Dunnes Stores the cost of the basket was €292.48 while in Superquinn the same basket cost just one cent more. Tesco was the most expensive and the groceries had a price tag of €296.08.

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.

Lplated · 29-04-2009 11:47am

Fluffybums wrote: »

Had a look in Tesco in Waterford (Ardkeen), needed some shopping so had a look to see if there were any Irish brands still on sale. I found the following taking up the same shelf space (as well as I can tell on a casual glance) as always.
Odlums, Flahavans, Fallain,
Shamrock, Ballymaloe, Real Irish Food Co.,
Gem, Avonmore, Galtee,
Denny, Clonakilty, Shaws,
Irish Yogurt, Yoplait, Gateaux,
Ballyfree, Glenisk, Green Farm Foods,
Green Isle, Roscrea, Dairygold,
Dawn, Kerrymaid, Moy Park,
Connacht Gold, LowLow, Dubliner,
Barrys, Coolmore, O'Hara's,
Staffords, MiWadi, Kelkin,
Killeen, Tayto, Pat the Baker,
Irish Pride, Bewleys, Brennans,
Corrin Hill, Butlers, Cuisine de France

AFAIK Galtee rashers aren't irish. This was a controversy that arose during the pig meat crisis last DEcember, all these people asking questions about how safe it was to eat Galtee rashers, thinking they were from Irish pigs, only to discover that they're not.

As a result of that and other revelations, i find myself much slower to support products just because they have irish branding and certainly boycotting a store who removed products that have been sold to us as 'irish' when in fact they were not wouldn't be high on my agenda.

Personally i'm as happy buying republic of ireland goods in the North where they are mainly cheaper - that way i get to support the manufacturer and the jobs it creates in the republic, without paying the additional 'buy in the republic' taxes that exist for whatever reason down here.

darc · 29-04-2009 11:53am

Hagar wrote: »

Yoplait is not Irish, Cusine de France, Bewley's, Tayto used to be but I wouldn't swear to it in court, Moy Park - Dungannon is British, Kelkin - International Brand, the rest I don't know for sure.

They may provide employment in Ireland but are they Irish?

/edit Tayto owned by Irish Snack Foods owned by Largo Foods - Still Irish TG

Sine introduction in 1974 Yoplait is made under licence by waterford foods in Inch, Co. Wexford.

Cusine De France owned by IAWS - old old Irish company but operates on the international stage. Over 500 people are employed manufacturing bread products in Clondalkin.

Bewleys - operated by Campbell Group. Based in Coolock.

Tayto - as you've said, is very Irish.

Moy Park, Dungannon - IMO its Irish.

Kelkin is a DCC company wholly Irish owned but now also sells into the UK market with Tesco UK one of their biggest customers.

Hagar · 29-04-2009 12:35pm

I stand largely corrected, however like it or not Moy Park is a British Company.

Jip · 29-04-2009 1:35pm

Lplated wrote: »

AFAIK Galtee rashers aren't irish. This was a controversy that arose during the pig meat crisis last DEcember, all these people asking questions about how safe it was to eat Galtee rashers, thinking they were from Irish pigs, only to discover that they're not.

AFAIK they were just the rashers used for export in the gift baskets that people send abroad at Christmas, they were from Holland or somewhere. The ones you buy here should be from Irish pork.

Lisie247 · 29-04-2009 1:38pm

Penneys is an Irish company...

allthedoyles wrote: »

Look everyone , We Irish buy most of our goods in UK stores like :
Penneys

Debenhams

Marks & Spencer

Dixons

Tesco

Ladbrookes

William Hill

Currys

Argos ..................the list is endless

Whatever happened to the advertisements for buying Irish and guaranteed Irish products

ch750536 · 29-04-2009 1:43pm

Hagar wrote: »

I stand largely corrected, however like it or not Moy Park is a British Company.

Is that british as in part of the economic structure of 'Great Britain and Norther Ireland' or is it british as they are based in the British Isles?

Alfasud · 29-04-2009 1:48pm

Brenan wrote: »

Tesco Ireland are currently in the process of switching its source of international brands from Irish suppliers to UK suppliers to reduce retail prices in its Irish stores and basically bypass the Irish supplier and of course this is something that Tesco have every right to do.

However, very little media reports have highlighted that the key issue is that Tesco are now removing Irish brands from its stores to make room for a bigger range of International brands.

Tesco have already started removing Irish brands and Irish manufactured products from their stores in border areas such as Dundalk and Sligo, and I am reliably informed that a very large percentage of Irish brands and Irish manufactured products are to be removed from ALL Tesco stores over the coming weeks.

The information I have is that Tesco new policy is: products currently ranged in Tesco Ireland, but not in Tesco UK (Irish brands specific to Ireland), are to be replaced by a suitable Tesco UK alternative product.

As Tesco represent around 25% of the grocery market in Ireland, this new policy is a disaster for Irish food producers and I am sure this will lead to massive redundancies in the food industry in this country.

I work with a large food producer in the Republic and I am very concerned about my job as are my colleagues. 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.

I know for a fact that Tesco are working off profit margins in the Republic that far exceed their profit margins in the UK, so maybe Tesco need to look closer at reducing retail prices by reducing their profit margins instead of making Irish producers suffer further.

They were allowed to get too big. Now they are calling the shots

ejmaztec · 29-04-2009 1:51pm

ch750536 wrote: »

Is that british as in part of the economic structure of 'Great Britain and Norther Ireland' or is it british as they are based in the British Isles?

If we were talking about the British Isles, there'd be no complaints from anybody.:P

From the Moy Park website:

"Welcome to Moy Park Limited. Based at Craigavon, Northern Ireland, and with further sites in Northern Ireland, England, France and The Netherlands"

Hagar · 29-04-2009 1:53pm

ch750536 wrote: »

Is that british as in part of the economic structure of 'Great Britain and Norther Ireland' or is it british as they are based in the British Isles?

Last time I checked N.Ireland was ruled by the British.
Where are these British Isles you speak of?

joolsveer · 29-04-2009 1:53pm

Lisie247 wrote: »

Penneys is an Irish company...

I don't think so.

Primark is a retail group in the value sector and operates a total of 187 stores in Ireland (where it trades under the Penneys brand),Holland , Spain and the UK. Primark employs in excess of 27,500 people. In GB, in terms of market share, TNS ranks Primark as GB's second largest clothing retailer by volume and Verdict Research now places Primark as the leading retailer in value clothing. Primark was voted 'Best Value High Street Fashion' by GMTV and ITV viewers.

Primark Stores Ltd., is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods. Associated British Foods is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with global sales of £8.2bn, and 96,000 employees in 44 countries.

http://www.primark.co.uk/background.shtml

ejmaztec · 29-04-2009 1:59pm

Hagar wrote: »

Last time I checked N.Ireland was ruled by the British.
Where are these British Isles you speak of?

Just saw the small print on the Moy Park website and see that it's part of the OSI group a US outfit.

http://www.osigroup.com/global/about.html

I don't think British whatever comes into it now:D

ch750536 · 29-04-2009 2:38pm

Hagar wrote: »

Last time I checked N.Ireland was ruled by the British.
Where are these British Isles you speak of?

Longest river in the British Isles?

Shannon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles

Tech3 · 29-04-2009 2:46pm

GerardKeating wrote: »

You keep make claims, but offer no proof.

Please cite one single product that has been removed from the shelves.

The OP is correct, Tesco Sligo has removed nearly all its frezzer stock and also other areas when I was in the store on sunday. I will be heading in later tonight for shopping to see if anything has changed since.

ejmaztec · 29-04-2009 2:49pm

tech2 wrote: »

The OP is correct, Tesco Sligo has removed nearly all its frezzer stock and also other areas when I was in the store on sunday. I will be heading in later tonight for shopping to see if anything has changed since.

Which brand names are missing?

Hagar · 29-04-2009 4:57pm

ch750536 wrote: »

Longest river in the British Isles?

Shannon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles

Wikipedia the same page wrote:

The term British Isles is controversial in relation to Ireland, where there are objections to its usage. The government of Ireland discourages its use. "Britain and Ireland" is a frequently used alternative name for the group.

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

Lplated · 29-04-2009 5:27pm

Jip wrote: »

AFAIK they were just the rashers used for export in the gift baskets that people send abroad at Christmas, they were from Holland or somewhere. The ones you buy here should be from Irish pork.

Not according to this article from the Irish Farmers Journal - http://www.farmersjournal.ie/2007/1013ruralliving/countrylifestyle/feature.shtml

I'm not sure tbh what the present state of play, but on the basis that at least some of their product is not irish but is sold/branded as such, they would go well down my list of 'irish' companies that i'd bother supporting.

Hagar · 29-04-2009 6:48pm

Irish Independent 29/4/09 wrote:

Tesco has admitted that it asked charity bag-packers at its store in Antrim to remove GAA jerseys following complaints from the public.
Children as young as nine were collecting money for a GAA club on Sunday when they were asked to go home and change out of their club jerseys.
Tesco says the decision was taken following vociferous complaints from the public, including one from a local Ulster Unionist councillor.
The retailer normally asks bag-packers from sports clubs to wear their jerseys so the public will now who they represent and will have a choice whether to donate or not.

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

GerardKeating · 29-04-2009 6:57pm

tech2 wrote: »

The OP is correct, Tesco Sligo has removed nearly all its frezzer stock and also other areas when I was in the store on sunday. I will be heading in later tonight for shopping to see if anything has changed since.

Last month, Tesco Galway also emptied most all the freezers.

Then they cleaned them and put the stock back.

Shame on Tesco - Removing Irish Brands from its Stores

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