OllyK

The diffference between mass produced and that from the local butcher / farm shop is significant and if it isn't organic, it's probably no more expensive or even cheaper than the super market.

Holy Ghost

i received a personalised letter today from Sainsbury's head of brand (along with millions of others), attempting to take the sting out of C4's programming this week.

industrialised, intensive and unethical 'standard' animal farming that supermarkets still underwrite really gets my goat. so i've just popped this in the post. if you've received Sainsbury's weasel riposte and feel, as i do, that it is inadequate and cowardly in the light of fair criticism, please free to adapt and use any way you see fit.

**

9th January 2008

Ms J Batchelar
Director of Brand
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd
33 Holborn
London EC1N 2HT

Dear Ms Batchelar,

Thank you for your recent letter. I take it you specifically mean the programmes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver currently being aired by Channel 4.

I was interested to learn about your various initiatives towards compassionate farming. Please do much more. You have the economic clout to make it happen. Here come some Big Buts.

Why is Sainsbury’s clearly so scared to be interviewed on air? Why would no broilerhouse poultry farmer co-operate with Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall? Could it be that all is not as rosy in the farmyard as you portray?

You can’t kid a kidder – as a corporate PR of nearly 20 years experience, I know all the tricks. And I know that few things can be more damaging to corporate reputation than the perception of prevarication or worse.

If you have a good animal welfare story to tell, as you claim in your letter to me, why have you failed to grasp these two significant broadcast opportunities and demonstrate how Sainsbury’s is leading a market shift towards greater compassion in animal farming? That neither Sainsbury’s nor any of the other supermarket multiples have so far been prepared to state their case in the primetime gaze speaks volumes about the embarrassing discomfiture you currently – and collectively - find yourselves in. Most people understand animal farming is not perfect. That you have missed the opportunity to recognise that - but also to communicate the improvements you claim to be driving - is a serious error of judgement in my opinion.

You look, I’m afraid, like you’re avoiding the issue in a way that would be familiar to many a government minister. And that is not what I would call competent stewardship of the brand. I daresay I’m not alone in my view.

In the meantime, I will continue to purchase my meat and poultry locally from butchers whose compassionate provenance in the rearing and supply of animals for food is beyond reproach.

Many thanks for getting in touch. I’d say you took the easy way out.

Yours sincerely,

Geezer

Well that simply isn't the case round these parts Olly! If I go to my local Tesco, the organic stuff is twice as much as some cases, and almost always about 30% more expensive.

The local farmers market is definitley more expensive than the local supermarkets. Is it organic? Who knows? They don't have to label their stuff.......

Geezer

OllyK

Which is why I said not the organic, organic IS a rip off.

It's unlikey it will be organic I suspect.

To give you an example, last week I went to the butcher and bought:
12 rashers smokey dry cure back bacon (no white water when you fry it)
6 chicken fillets (each at least 1/3 bigger than the tesco equivalent)
1 Gammon slice (big enough to cut in to 4 portions)
6 free range eggs
2 Pork escalopes

Total price - £11.68

Equivalent from Tesco
Bacon - £1.88 (8 rashers)
Chicken - £7.39 (800g pack)
Gammon - £2.96 (500g)
Eggs Tesco Value - £0.73
Pork Loin Steaks x2 - £2.66

Total price £15.62

And you have less bacon!

MooseRacer

Just noticed where you are Geezer - your brain is addled from eating all that radioactive sheep

Organic has become a buzz word which doesn't guarantee any kind of quality these days.

Farm shops in the nuclear fallout free south west produce tastier, often cheaper, produce regardless of the labelling.

Geezer

Not eating, sh@gging

And I don't care about their upbringing either

Geezer

StickyMicky

i cant eat chicken as it makes me bad but i can tell the difference between an asda, tesco and "youngs" salmon fillet might have tested a co-op one as well to be honest

Jamie

3 pence per bird is the going rate!