Freeconomy Blog
Sun
03 May
The real reason I've stopped going to Tesco...
I have a confession to make to you all; one that, I am sorry, may shock some of you. I am no longer a fan of Tesco. For a number of years I loved them - the money I saved by going there kept me in no end of Ralph Lauren polo-shirts and Calvin Klein pants, without which I am sure I'd still be unkissed to this day.
But recently we fell out. I mentioned this broken love affair to a stunned friend just before I started living without money, and she obviously asked me why, given that it was such a outrageous opinion to have.
Now this friend was pretty switched on environmentally - she ate organic (whenever possible, she quickly added...), she liked the idea of local food, recycled her soya milk tetra paks and even switched to rollies, which, I can only assume are good for the environment, given the amount of environmentalists who smoke them. Even being so clued-up as that, she still seen no problem with shopping in Tesco so she obviously set about investigating why I had withdrawn my moral support for their activities (I obviously had to withdraw my financial support earlier, having ridiculously given up money), to see if she could find any logic in it whatsoever.
"Is it because of the fact they pay terrible wages - both at home and in the sweatshops they effectively employ abroad - on which most people can barely survive, even though they themselves made £3 billion profit last year?", she started. "Well it would be nice if those people could at least earn enough for themselves and their family to survive", I replied, "given that the job satisfaction isn't there for a lot of the employees, but then the cost of my food and goods would go up, and that wouldn't really be good for me or other consumers, so I can see why they do it".
"Ah yes, I know - it's because you are vegan and they are the world's biggest butchers, and you don't want to support them because of that?" she remarked. "No, not at all", I said, "of course I'd prefer if they weren't the biggest buyer of caged chicken and eggs on the planet, or forced suppliers to reduce their animal welfare standard so that they can make a bit more profit. Or put more cows, pigs and lambs to a really cruel death in what is effectively a Nazi-style extermination camp. But they do really cheap tofu and soya milk, so I think they are actually pretty vegan friendly."
Still curious, she went on. "Is it because you are suspicious of their Chief Executive Sir Terry Leahy's close friendship with Gordon Brown?" she asked."Well, you know, I don't think it is perfect that he is an advisor to, and close friend of Mr Brown, given that Tesco have announced £3 billion profit during a recession. I realise people are more likely to shop there when they have less money, as they do in a recession, hence the huge profits, but Mr Brown is a good man and I am sure Sir Terry has enough integrity to forget his own personal interests when advising his good friend. I think it is only conspiracy theorists who would suspect a politician as honest as Gordon of anything untoward."
"OK, then, is it the fact that they adopt a very aggressive expansion policy, buying up more land in every part of the country than any other group, and then reducing prices in the areas where they've set up new shops in for the first year, until all the little local traders are killed off?" she questioned, sounding slightly frustrated. "Get serious", I replied, "that's just business and if you can't compete then you deserve to die - survival of the fittest and all that. In fact I think the little guys should just work a bit harder and stay open a bit longer, instead of just moaning."
Struggling to get any insights, she continued "I know you wish there was peace in the Middle East, so I guess its because they bought technology of the Israeli government which, previously, allowed them to spy on Palestinians, but which Tesco can use to view potatoes from 71 different angles so that they can chuck out the 40% of spuds that are too ugly to sell"? "What do you think I am, some kind of Luddite", I flabbergastedly replied. "Why not use such amazing technology to make life easier for everyone? Nobody likes an odd looking potato, especially if you are cooking for friends", I retorted, and rather smugly at that.
"It must be the fact then that they are driving down prices that farmers, particularly in the 'less-developed' nations, receive for their produce, so much so that 500 farmers in Britain each week have to give up their land, as they can no longer afford to carry on anymore, and that 100,000 farmers in India have committed suicide rather than see their families face the shame of bankruptcy?" she quipped, thinking she'd finally got it. "Again, how on earth do you think we get cheap prices", I said."It really is up to farmers to find cheaper ways of producing food, that is not Tesco's concern. The same farmers probably resisted GM crops, which would have undoubtedly made them far more competitive."
"Now I am really confused - let me think. Lets see - I know you are a local food advocate, is it because they are packing salad bags in China full of gases so that they can sell them much cheaper than your mate Phil's salad down the road at the Walled Garden?", she continued with her questioning. "You can never have enough salad, and Phil gets by anyway, even if it does mean he is a few pence out. I haven't seen the 'old bugger in a while anyway, keeps telling me he's too busy these days. Well if he hasn't got time for his friends then why should I care to be frank."
"I got it! You've been involved in getting billboards down in Bristol, and I know you see adverts as another attempt by marketers to create wants, and I realise Tesco spend heavily on billboards. Do you resent the fact that they advertise to you as you walk through your local community?", she said. "Yeah of course I don't like it, but all my favourite supermarkets do it too, so I am not going to target them individually, what would be the point in that. Anyway, they're a business, its their job to create wants, isn't it?" I am starting to feel like a criminal at this stage, such is the questioning of my old shopping habits.
We both stood in wonder - me at why she wasn't getting it, her because she couldn't figure it out. "I know you are deeply concerned about the severe, irreversible climate change that is facing us now, so I'd imagine you see the fact that £1 out of every £8 spent on everything in the UK goes into Tesco's bank accounts - both at home and off-shore - means that they've flown quite a lot of CO2 into the stratosphere, getting the stuff we like to our doorsteps with their just-in-time logistical systems?" she asked. "Yeah, I guess, but if they weren't importing it then the local guys could be anyway, but they'd probably just be a lot less efficient at it."
"I give up!", she finally remarks, "I can see no other reason why you may not be a fan of Tesco! Put me out of our misery and tell me what has finally swayed you away from this organisation which has finally made food affordable", she continued. "All you had to do was ask", I retorted, "and I would have got straight to the point, you know I don't really like to talk about all these fluffy ethical issues. Its because of this advert I seen in the newspaper the other day:"
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"I can forgive their slave wages, dehumanising working environment, animal torturing and planet raping antics, their cosy political relationships and dealings with military regimes and their massively destructive impact on the lives of farmers worldwide. I can even forgive the fact that it is part of their policy to be completely cut-throat about killing off small local traders as early as possibly, using their capital to take a bit of short term pain for long term gain.
But encouraging people to buy energy saving lightbulbs, which saves about 270g of carbon per lightbulb, by offering them 60 free air miles which then enables people to get on a short cheap flight and put 3,500,000g of carbon in the atmosphere is just idiotic, and I wouldn't give my hard earned cash, even if I did use the stuff, to a bunch of idiots!"
Trouble is, they're not idiots, and this would be funny if it wasn't true.
***UPDATE*** - you now no longer have to be a member to post a comment to this blog!
THE FREECONOMY BLOG is written by Mark Boyle, founder of the Freeconomy Community.
Comment on this Post:
George comments ...
An MP in Thailand is facing two years in prison for criticising Tesco's aggressive tactics over there, which is said to be putting a lot of local people out of business...
Anyone else with a Tesco horror story?
Girish comments ...
Well said. I have personally boycotted most of the big indian shopping malls here for ethical reasons. Given the overpopulation here, it is all too simple to run sweatshops because of the intense competition to survive. You can always find someone more desperate who is willing to do for less.
Fergus comments ...
Best blog yet!
Right, it's just too painful now; what means of denial/avoidance are there at my disposal to blot all this out. Wine? Coke, Sex....and more sex? Retail therapy? Excessive work? Nonstop partying? That good old stand by, television? None of them quite do it any more.....Ah, I know.....I'll through myself off a cliff; end it all; dwell in the eternal bliss of oblivion! Yes!! But No!!! Awful thought: I might wake up in hell - an eternal trolley trudging up and down the nauseating aisles of the damned at a Tesco Extra!!!
F x
Mark comments ...
Fergus - Love it, best comment ever! I found the best way to deal with all this is to simply believe their marketing - you know the adverts with the chirpy ass-slapping employees, the smiling customers, the happy coffee farmer on their non-fair trade coffee packets...and to not ask questions I might not like the answer to.
Then I can content myself that its all fine, I don't have to change, and my pleasure isn't derived from someone less fortunate's pain.
Girish - good on you, I couldn't agree more. Much respect.
Ana comments ...
Hy Mark ,
I've been a follower of this website from the start because partially reflect my life ideals, aspirations and practices.
Just to add some more ideas. It does not matter how much our dislike of the supermarkets, we have to recognize there are very successful business and keep in expanding. They are convenient, save time, save money?, save trips (save petrol) and probably we are not going to give them up so soon, and less in those unstable recession times.
What I would like to see it's protectionist policies protecting the producers at one end and us the consumers at the other, especially on staple foods.
Also another wrong supermarket practices that it worries me, and I would like to see them forbidden; how those supermarket are targeting our children, and are introduced in our schools in a very subtle ways as vouchers for the exchange of cheap and useless schools equipment , so parents are involved to keep buying their products to get the vouchers and children are forced to take part on the ceremonial day (probably missing the proper teaching lessons) attended by supermarket representatives to give the items and to propagate further their products, and during the duration of the whole campaign huge billboards are located on the school entrance/grounds. Schools are also being offered money incentives to locate supermarket billboards on school grounds, what it's very tempting when schools run short of funds.
Kind regards Ana
eileen o leary comments ...
I welcome the philosophy and hope to adopt some of your ideas , i will keep looking in, Well done Good luck people like you should rule the world
Louise comments ...
Thanks for the eye-opener - I needed it. Where I live (in Welwyn Garden City) there are no local greengrocers or small retailers - we are almost entirely at the mercy of the supermarket chains. It's dreadful that if I want to support small business people I have to drive miles to find them. What can I do?
Mark comments ...
Louise - I completely understand your situation; the supermarket chains have cleverly constructed the situation you are in. I feel for you. I am not sure how your fitness is, or how far the nearest greengrocer is, but you could possibly start cycling - I have panniers for my bike and its a great way to save money, get fit and still support the people you want to support.
Failing that, I would go to your greengrocers if they sell local food - I know it is burning oil but there would certainly be a lot more oil used if you bought imported food from a supermarket. Thats my opinion anyway. Maybe others here have more advice?
fool comments ...
but if they reinvested every penny of their profit to feed the hungry, house the homeless and provide free health care for all, it would all be ok wouldn't it?
positive capitalism in action ;-)
and if they invested in positive advertising like "the chalk revolution" i'd be more than happy
wouldnt you? ;-)
ceridwen comments ...
Well - I reckon that has to be the most comprehensive critique of Tesco I've ever read! All points summed up at once.....I'm doing my best to wean myself off them....
regards
ceridwen
x
GERARD F comments ...
BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES LAD SEEN YE IN IRISH INDO LAST WEEK KEEP ER LIT
Lisa comments ...
Great blog! We stopped using supermarkets over a year ago and feel so much better for it. We also buy almost completely organic and, contrary to most people's beliefs (most of my family included), we don't spend a fortune on food. We don't eat meat or much dairy, avoid expensive processed foods and minimise on waste by planing meals around what we have available, serving smaller portions and freezing leftovers for future meals. We get a veggie box and buy things like nuts, seeds, rice, lentils etc. loose from health food shops. We're also just, somewhat tentatively, branching into growing our own veggies and fruit, which will hopefully be even cheaper.
It doesn't seem like hard work not using supermarkets; it's just a case of finding another way that works for you. And we're not perfect - we do go into Co-op occasionally, if we want a somewhat more processed night of pizza, garlic bread and crisps!! But you'll never find me anywhere near those blue and white stripes again...
Jenny comments ...
I stopped shopping there a while ago, I have recently gone into mini tesco's for 'convenience' but this helps me renew my commitment. Well done - can't this go in the press? Big issue maybe?
florelly comments ...
awesome Mark, just awesome. I HATED reading those facts, and I'm sure you researched them well. i used to be a tescos girl when i lived in Bristol but Tobes made me aware of the way that money gets removed form the local economy and that was eventually enough for me. iI do get the odd cd/t shirt there still cos they have things i like but im on a rethink right now. scary stuff indeed. Not new, and not original but scary. How come so many INDIAN farmers are targetted/affected by them? did they approach a lot of farms and get them to produce for them too cheaply? I thought they would rather use big organisations. interested to hear the logic behind the tragic fact of the suicides. i was very heavy and quiet after reading your list of facts. and i was already aware of many of them if not the detail then the tactics. thank you. and much love
anne withers comments ...
re origins of Tesco - read NOTHING LIKE A DAME -The Scandals of Shirley Porter by Andrew Hosken - then you can see where Tesco is coming from.