Co-op Report

I am currently back in Plymouth on a BENDER of a weekend. Hungover after a night of PASSIONATE drinking and MERCILESS boffing of local SKIRT upon The Strasse, I shuffed across to Somerfield on Mutley to pick up some supplies*.

Imagine my SHOCK when I found out that Somerfield is Co-op. I did not let this PERTURB me and remained FOCUSED upon my goals.

I initially was pleased that the layout has remained SIMILAR to how it was. I do not like change LOL.

I bought SOME Powerade after noticing on the bottle that it 'Hydrates better than water'. Hello, selling point! By SOME Powerade I mean a solitary bottle, retailing at the fairly unremarkable price of £1.15. I also some JAFFA cakes and then a hot chicken. The staff on the whole were EFFICIENT but there was one moment where I was waiting to get to the shelf for TEABAGS and there was a young CHAP refilling a nearby item (I cannot remember which, due to PROXIMITY I'd say POTENCH coffee?) who was in my way. This led to a minorly awkward moment which was soon addressed when he removed his slightly tubby FRAME from the vicinity. He was about 5"9.

At the till, there was no queue and I paid on my VISA card. My pin is 3042 (ROFL). The FROCK behind the counter was ADEQUATE.



7/10 - I did NOT miss the Somerfield brand.

* men buy supplies, women buy food.

My Mum lives just around the corner, I agree it was a shock when the Coop took over.

seadog wrote:

My Mum lives just around the corner, I agree it was a shock when the Coop took over.

Are you my brother?

I'm not a big fan of the Co-Op the service there isn't great. Although apparently the first Co-Op was in Southsea and I used to live there.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

* men buy supplies, women buy food.

How was the hot ckicken........... lukewarm and greasy or hot and spicy ?

What brand of teabags did you buy, and how much did they cost?

They do a wicked funeral.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

seadog wrote:

My Mum lives just around the corner, I agree it was a shock when the Coop took over.

Are you my brother?

I'll check, she lives in Hermitage Court, where does yours live? Bro?

Frank Bullitt wrote:

What brand of teabags did you buy, and how much did they cost?

I am NOT fussy when it comes to tea. It was co-op's own brand, I doubt it was much cheaper than the LIKES of tetley, etc because of their bizarre ideas re fair trade.

Tringreen wrote:

Mock Cuncher wrote:

* men buy supplies, women buy food.

How was the hot ckicken........... lukewarm and greasy or hot and spicy ?

greasy, but still pretty good. I think it would have been a lot nicer if I wasn't so hungover.

I went into my corner shop today ... not a Co-op I must add.
I bought a tin of cat food and a cheap toothbrush.
After receiving my change I was ordered to ...." Enjoy ! "

I had hoped the comment might be ironic, being served by a young sort, but looking into his face .... no.
Is it just me ?

penzancepirate wrote:

I went into my corner shop today ... not a Co-op I must add.
I bought a tin of cat food and a cheap toothbrush.
After receiving my change I was ordered to ...." Enjoy ! "

I had hoped the comment might be ironic, being served by a young sort, but looking into his face .... no.
Is it just me ?

Was it a LONDIS?

I have found the staff to be notoriously SUBTLE at Londis.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

penzancepirate wrote:

I went into my corner shop today ... not a Co-op I must add.
I bought a tin of cat food and a cheap toothbrush.
After receiving my change I was ordered to ...." Enjoy ! "

I had hoped the comment might be ironic, being served by a young sort, but looking into his face .... no.
Is it just me ?

Was it a LONDIS?

I have found the staff to be notoriously SUBTLE at Londis.

Its a small chain, rather like SPAR but pricier

I'll be in there on Tuesday the 6th, will post update then.

seadog wrote:

I'll be in there on Tuesday the 6th, will post update then.

I am SOMEWHAT looking forward in ANTICIPATION to this.

Just a quick update on the young chap who served me in the corner shop.
Two of the usual young girls that work in these sort of shops were discussing their work colleague.
"I can't understand why they employed him. He's nice enough, but he should be working in a city centre computer games shop for nerds"
I must admit, he does rather stick out like a sore thumb.... gawd knows what he thinks when the pencil thin off the planet brigade drop in ... literally.

penzancepirate wrote:

Just a quick update on the young chap who served me in the corner shop.
Two of the usual young girls that work in these sort of shops were discussing their work colleague.
"I can't understand why they employed him. He's nice enough, but he should be working in a city centre computer games shop for nerds"
I must admit, he does rather stick out like a sore thumb.... gawd knows what he thinks when the pencil thin off the planet brigade drop in ... literally.

Ah,so thats what Stapes is doing these days.

I have to say this is a great thread.

My local co-op is pants. Cracking bird works there though which can of makes up for it. 200 x better than farm foods though, although they do 2 loaves of bread for £1.40 and a pound for four pints of semi skimmed cow juice. Difficult balance to get. Totty or value for money?

mrrapson wrote:

I have to say this is a great thread.

My local co-op is pants. Cracking bird works there though which can of makes up for it. 200 x better than farm foods though, although they do 2 loaves of bread for £1.40 and a pound for four pints of semi skimmed cow juice. Difficult balance to get. Totty or value for money?

It depends how much bread and milk you get through really. I tend to go for jugs.

Frank Bullitt wrote:

mrrapson wrote:

I have to say this is a great thread.

My local co-op is pants. Cracking bird works there though which can of makes up for it. 200 x better than farm foods though, although they do 2 loaves of bread for £1.40 and a pound for four pints of semi skimmed cow juice. Difficult balance to get. Totty or value for money?

It depends how much bread and milk you get through really. I tend to go for jugs.

does it not spill when you shut the fridge door?

mrrapson wrote:

Frank Bullitt wrote:

mrrapson wrote:

I have to say this is a great thread.

My local co-op is pants. Cracking bird works there though which can of makes up for it. 200 x better than farm foods though, although they do 2 loaves of bread for £1.40 and a pound for four pints of semi skimmed cow juice. Difficult balance to get. Totty or value for money?

It depends how much bread and milk you get through really. I tend to go for jugs.

does it not spill when you shut the fridge door?

I keep it on the shelf but that opens up the whole small jugs/big jugs debate.

Frank Bullitt wrote:

mrrapson wrote:

Frank Bullitt wrote:

mrrapson wrote:

I have to say this is a great thread.

My local co-op is pants. Cracking bird works there though which can of makes up for it. 200 x better than farm foods though, although they do 2 loaves of bread for £1.40 and a pound for four pints of semi skimmed cow juice. Difficult balance to get. Totty or value for money?

It depends how much bread and milk you get through really. I tend to go for jugs.

does it not spill when you shut the fridge door?

I keep it on the shelf but that opens up the whole small jugs/big jugs debate.

I prefer small jugs personally. More compact, easy to hold and less spillage.

Farm Foods is ok value for yen, but in reality it is Iceland in disguise to make middle class people more likely to shop there.

Back on topic, I was in the afore mentioned Cooperative on the Plain yesterday.

A good selection of fresh fruit and veg, although rather light on bananas. Some good offers in the wine section, half price on some bottles.
Rather too much white bread though.
The staff were as ever courteous and efficient, a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I looked into the gaudy Tesco Express, recently opened, but resisted the temptation to investigate further, too common.