Brexit Effects in our Shops

Caranica

I know this isn't D15 specific but it's what I experienced today in D15.

This won't be fully felt with non essential retail closed but I was in M&S in the centre today and about 50% of the shelves were empty in the food hall. Plenty of "free from" and plant based stuff, alcohol and Easter eggs but the chilled section was like late on Christmas Eve without the festive feel.

Got milk in Aldi, €1.12 for a litre?

I'm guessing Dealz will have issues too, and Iceland?

ongarite

I can see M&S pulling out of Ireland if they can't sort out how to stock their UK food produce in Ireland very soon.
They won't pay for EU/Irish sourced produce just for Irish market.

Ready to cook/eat meals are M&S main selling point but you can't import ready produced/processed food stuffs into EU from third-party country like UK is now.

ongarboy

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0105/1187807-marks-spencer-france/

I was just reading about that exact issue earlier! I think some of it is just teething issues with the whole customs paperwork process needing to be familiarized by the various stakeholders but prices surely will now go up with the added tariffs and custom duties to be added for such products?

raheny red

RIP the yellow sticker!

IngazZagni

I dont normally shop at M&S but did a couple days ago or at least attempted to. Noticed straight away many shelves weren't well stocked and all the milk had an expiry date of only 2 days away. I walked out empty handed. Not impressed.

Larbre34

I've been in Tesco, Aldi and Super Valu since 1st Jan and noticed huge gaps in stock in all of them. Not just brands and types you would expect might be imported, but fresh produce like basic meats etc.

Former Former Former

I was in Tesco Roselawn on Sunday and found it no different than usual tbh. Didn't notice anything major missing.

Pat Dunne

Been looking for large jars of Bovril for weeks now!
Bombay Bad Boy, Pot Noodles can’t be got anywhere!
It’s the end I tell you, the end!

Larbre34

Pat Dunne wrote: »

Been looking for large jars of Bovril for weeks now!
Bombay Bad Boy, Pot Noodles can’t be got anywhere!
It’s the end I tell you, the end!

Also Quavers, Pilchards, Saveloys, Jellied Eels and Pickled eggs.

Those who usually quench their thirst with Irn Bru, Vimto, John Smiths and Newkie Brown will just have to boil their own worn jocks and drink the liquor.

LorelaiG

Pat Dunne wrote: »

Been looking for large jars of Bovril for weeks now!
Bombay Bad Boy, Pot Noodles can’t be got anywhere!
It’s the end I tell you, the end!

Iceland has plenty of the Bombay bad boys...

ongarite

As I said in previous post, M&S business model for Ireland is in tatters post Brexit.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0108/1188417-marks-and-spencers-trading-update/

CEO Steve Rowe said the pink sweets, along with about a third of the products in M&S's food business, are subject to very complex "rules of origin" regulations that form part of Britain's trade deal with the EU.

The rules relate to the composition of individual products and how much of it has been altered in the United Kingdom.

Any product that is manufactured in Europe, imported into the UK and then re-distributed to EU countries faces a tariff.

"The best example I can give you of that is Percy Pig," Rowe told reporters.

"Percy Pig is actually manufactured in Germany. If it comes to the UK and we then send it to Ireland, in theory it would have some tax on it," he said.

M&S also also warned today that potential post-Brexit tariffs on goods exported to the EU, together with complex administrative processes, would significantly impact its businesses in Ireland, the Czech Republic and its franchise business in France.

Larbre34

Good, we should be buying Irish anyway. And before anyone says it, in Tesco or Aldi etc, I look always for Irish produce first.

The Percy Pig example is a nice simple illustrator. Aldi or Lidi should be thinking 'hmmm these Irish pixie heads love these Percy Schweine Süßigkeiten, lets lift the phone to the Vaterland and order a few million made under our own brand.

When it comes to posh ready meals like M&S, visit your local SuperValu and independent delis anyway, you'll be better off financially and nutritionally and you'll be supporting Irish growers and makers.

ongarite

https://twitter.com/lidl_ireland/status/1347526789707530241

Larbre34

I should've known! Fair play to their quickness.

DvB

Did the weekly grocery shop in Dunnes up at the Blanch SC on Saturday morning & didn't notice anything of note lacking on the shelves.

Wesekn.

ongarite wrote: »

I can see M&S pulling out of Ireland if they can't sort out how to stock their UK food produce in Ireland very soon.
They won't pay for EU/Irish sourced produce just for Irish market.

Ready to cook/eat meals are M&S main selling point but you can't import ready produced/processed food stuffs into EU from third-party country like UK is now.

They can import the meals but there's paperwork involved now in food produce

runwithme

Empty shelves in Santry M & S. I was there Friday evening and Sunday morning. Hardly any ready made meals. My weekly shop is in tatters😃 🥘

rolling boh

Normally do my shop Sunday morning here in roselawn last couple of weeks have found stock very low or nonexistent for veg or salads in packs usually buy some for lunch .Some of them that are there usually have a best use date for the next day. I know it's usually a bit harder to shop for one without having to chuck out stuff but I like to have food in for at least four days or so .

ozmo

Tesco in NI widely reported to be having supply problems (Brexit) - maybe its starting here too.

Aldi, Lidl and others still no issue - maybe Tesco need to start sourcing more locally.

This is it

Had the same issue last week in another Tesco. Short on meat, fruit and veg. Very little of any of it left. I didn't query it but maybe it is part of a wider issue and wasn't just a once off

Hurrache

ozmo wrote: »

Aldi, Lidl and others still no issue - maybe Tesco need to start sourcing more locally.

They already do, have done for a long time, their fruit and veg is Irish or sourced from Ireland, a lot from county Dublin itself, apart from obviously the more exotic stuff.

Their fresh meat is Irish too, main issue with them, and others, is the ready meal, as that is processed and packaged all over the place.

Hurrache

Hurrache wrote: »

They already do, have done for a long time, their fruit and veg is Irish or sourced from Ireland, a lot from county Dublin itself, apart from obviously the more exotic stuff.

Their fresh meat is Irish too, main issue with them, and others, is the ready meal, as that is processed and packaged all over the place.

They’ve a fair bit of British fresh veg if you look at the packaging.

miamee

Threads merged

Hurrache

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

They’ve a fair bit of British fresh veg if you look at the packaging.

Like what? If it's 'British' then it's because it can't be sourced here, or there's Irish alternatives in store.
Stuff that can't be got here in Ireland, such as out of season items, usually comes from Europe or further field anyway, there's little that's grown in England that's not there.

Hurrache

Hurrache wrote: »

Like what? If it's 'British' then it's because it can't be sourced here, or there's Irish alternatives in store.
Stuff that can't be got here in Ireland, such as out of season items, usually comes from Europe or further field anyway, there's little that's grown in England that's not there.

I've a bag sitting at home of "Fresh British Carrots" that I bought in my local Tesco. Are you saying carrots can't be sourced here?

Hurrache

I literally said there's Irish alternatives in store, you even quote it.

I've two bags of Tesco Irish Carrots in my fridge, with tricolours and everything on the packaging.

Did you choose to buy British? There's very little reason to when it comes to fresh foods.

Rigor Mortis

Tesco in fairness, like most other multiples have long since realised the sense in buying local produce where possible. M and S had something as few as 25 Irish suppliers.

A Knight of Ireland

Any photos that I have seen with empty shelves online seem to be from Aldi. I was in the Roselawn Tesco yesterday morning and the shelves were well stocked and didn't see anything obviously missing

Caranica

A Knight of Ireland wrote: »

Any photos that I have seen with empty shelves online seem to be from Aldi. I was in the Roselawn Tesco yesterday morning and the shelves were well stocked and didn't see anything obviously missing

I can confirm that fruit and veg and milk sections of Aldi at the centre were very empty looking on Saturday evening.

ozmo

Caranica wrote: »

I can confirm that fruit and veg and milk sections of Aldi at the centre were very empty looking on Saturday evening.

I think the Aldi stores we have here are controlled from the UK - part of their operation.

Lidl though are an Irish run division separate from uk - might be why stocks are different.

Pat Dunne

ozmo wrote: »

I think the Aldi stores we have here are controlled from the UK - part of their operation.

Lidl though are an Irish run division separate from uk - might be why stocks are different.

You’re bang on the money.

listermint

ozmo wrote: »

I think the Aldi stores we have here are controlled from the UK - part of their operation.

Lidl though are an Irish run division separate from uk - might be why stocks are different.

Ask this lad what he's up to.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/aldi-s-british-irish-boss-is-in-the-market-for-more-growth-1.4113222

Caranica

Can anyone who's been in Tesco/Aldi/M&S give an update on how things are now? I'm in my final few days of self isolation (not Covid but several symptoms in common) so I haven't been in a supermarket for a few weeks. Have been getting Tesco online deliveries and noticed fresh ginger and chillies have been out of stock for the past month at least and loads of own brand stuff isn't available online.

miamee

Fresh ginger was missing from my local Lidl for 2-3 weeks there but they had it back at the weekend. In the meantime, I had bought a load of it in Supervalu.

I haven't been to M&S for over a week but at the time there were gaps on the shelves and a LOT of yellow stickered goods. Things may have improved since then, maybe someone else will have more up to date info.

I only go to Aldi when the queue for Dunnes is too busy and/or I only need a few things but it seems fairly well stocked for what I have needed anyway (new one at the shopping centre).

Zaph

Just completed our order for Tesco click and collect. No garlic in Tesco for the last couple of weeks. No ginger or chillis this week. Reduced choice for random things like toilet rolls or mozzarella. Hard to predict what will be available and what won't each week.

Bargain_Hound

Lidl/Aldi definitely have a reduction in a lot of items on the shelfs. I've been several times over the last few weeks and couldn't get something I normally would there. Its visibly more sparse too.

rolling boh

Have certainly noticed a smaller selection of some fruit and salad items in Tesco .Dunnes seem to be holding their own with those items that I look to buy. I

raheny red

Some M&S deliveries are so late that upon delivery the goods are going straight into the bin. I've found Dunnes/Aldi/Lidl in the centre fine for fruit and veg.

runwithme

Mark’s and Spencer’s still very low on stock. It hasn’t improved at all over the last 4 weeks. Very few ready meals. The ones they have the fill out the shelves with. Lots of the same product. I am really missing their food. It’s my only guilty pleasure 😁

Larbre34

I'd say you may miss it permanently soon.

Be a shame to see them going.

Hurrache

Not really, outside of those employed in their stores, they bring little to the country in comparison to other stores.

Caranica

Hurrache wrote: »

Not really, outside of those employed in their stores, they bring little to the country in comparison to other stores.

I disagree. I have size 35.5 feet (a proper 3). Marks and Next are the only places I can buy affordable shoes straight off the shelf. Every other shop in the Centre labels a 36 as a 3 and they're too bloody big.

The staff there are the friendliest in the Centre too.

Hurrache

Their food products are all imported into the country using a distribution service based out of the UK, they don't support local producers so outside of employment and rent, they invest little in each country outside of the UK they operate in. That's the angle I was coming from.

Hurrache

Hurrache wrote: »

Not really, outside of those employed in their stores, they bring little to the country in comparison to other stores.

I’m not talking about employment. I’m talking about their product range that I like and will be sorry to see going.

Hurrache wrote: »

Their food products are all imported into the country using a distribution service based out of the UK, they don't support local producers so outside of employment and rent, they invest little in each country outside of the UK they operate in. That's the angle I was coming from.

Most Irish producers don’t put the money back into Ireland anyway so I’ve no qualms about not buying what they’re selling. What’s good for the goose...

zerosugarbuzz

Hurrache wrote: »

Their food products are all imported into the country using a distribution service based out of the UK, they don't support local producers so outside of employment and rent, they invest little in each country outside of the UK they operate in. That's the angle I was coming from.

I shop regularly in M&S or at least I used to until brexit. Stock levels decimated for the past few weeks. I particularly like their breaded chicken fillets, which haven’t been there for the past month. I disagree that they bring little to the table. They certainly do stock Irish products, I know a factory in Meath that supplies confectionary to them. Their food safety standards are known to be rigorous for suppliers, many don’t pass their standards. As a consumer I consider this to be a good thing. Also, their staff ant very well paid and treated compared to other supermarkets. I will very much miss them if they go.

runwithme

I dropped in again to M & S after work last night. Again very little on the line of meals, I also like their breaded chicken and many other of their products. I love their food and have happily shopped here for years. A little pricey but well worth it and results in zero waste. They have great standards, friendly staff and quality products. I really hope they stay.

Hurrache

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Most Irish producers don’t put the money back into Ireland anyway so I’ve no qualms about not buying what they’re selling. What’s good for the goose...

Of course they do.

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

Their food safety standards are known to be rigorous for suppliers, many don’t pass their standards.

Likely to be EU standards.

They don’t. In my experience many will spend their money on consumables, equipment, and services outside the state. It’s the main reason I don’t fall into the ‘buy local’ trap. I’ll suit myself as much as they do.

miamee

Mod - let's get back to the topic of Brexit effects on our D15 shops. Thanks.

TheValeyard

Be shame if they left. More choice is always a good thing.

Cant say I've noticed too much difference at the moment with shopping to be perfectly honest, but I'm just doing basics like food and maintenance stuff. Online is a different story!