Sick & tired of Woolworths...

[Peter Ward]

Perhaps it's my European heritage, but our household often enjoy's a good German or Latvian style rye-bread with slices of cheese, salami and dill-gerkin for lunch.

As it turns out, Helga's make a range of Rye's (Continental Sweet and Sour being my favorite) that we used to be able to obtain form our local "Woolies"

After an absence of some weeks from the shelves, I discovered yet again, our choices have been reduced by some bean counter in thier head-office, as Woolies have "deleted" that product line from our local.

Now we only have flaccid bread choices along with their other crappy watery "in-house" product lines.

Suffice to say, I will be on a mission to avoid shopping at "Woolies"

Begging the question, it is just me? ...are you also tired of this profit driven lack of choice?

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Begging the question, it is just me? ...are you also tired of this profit driven lack of choice?

It's not just you. I now have to shop at 4 supermarket chains and a market to get what I want. I'm tired of low quality "no name" brands pushing better products off the shelves ... and they're not even that much cheaper.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Perhaps it's my European heritage, but our household often enjoy's a good German or Latvian style rye-bread with slices of cheese, salami and dill-gerkin for lunch.

As it turns out, Helga's make a range of Rye's (Continental Sweet and Sour being my favorite) that we used to be able to obtain form our local "Woolies"

After an absence of some weeks from the shelves, I discovered yet again, our choices have been reduced by some bean counter in thier head-office, as Woolies have "deleted" that product line from our local.

Now we only have flaccid bread choices along with their other crappy watery "in-house" product lines.

Suffice to say, I will be on a mission to avoid shopping at "Woolies"

Begging the question, it is just me? ...are you also tired of this profit driven lack of choice?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Peter,I am
They have got rid of my favourite Corn Flakes and replaced them with their's
They don't sell unsalted peanuts and Cashews anymore,and the list goes on and on
I like you am looking for some where else to shop
Cheers

[rat156]

I Love them, they employ my daughter, who still raids my bank account to buy stuff off the internet.

Cheers
Stuart

[asimov (John)]

Don't worry the same deal is happening in IGA & Coles...

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by asimov

Don't worry the same deal is happening in IGA & Coles...

Que? This lack of choice is supposed to make me feel good?

Damm it...

"I'm as mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!!! "

(apologies to Peter Finch in the movie "Network" )

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Woolies Bankstown had the bread you want, Peter. I think different branches delete items that do not volume sell, and cater to their local populations.
I guess Bankstown has a far greater immigrant population than Menai.

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Perhaps it's my European heritage, but our household often enjoy's a good German or Latvian style rye-bread with slices of cheese, salami and dill-gerkin for lunch.

As it turns out, Helga's make a range of Rye's (Continental Sweet and Sour being my favorite) that we used to be able to obtain form our local "Woolies"

So true! Australia is bread hell. As a German I cannot stand the white spongy stuff they're selling by the metric ton. We used to buy Helga's Schinkenbrot, but haven't seen it on the shelves (Woolworths or Coles) for months…

Coles' online store still lists it, but I haven't tried ordering it there.

We sometimes resort to buying the very expensive (but good) German breads from the Lüneburger bakery chain. Maybe I need to go back to making my own. I bought a pack of Laucke's sourdough rye mixture the other day, we'll see how that goes…

Cheers
Steffen.

[AndrewJ]

I think different branches delete items that do not volume sell, and cater to their local populations.

Actually, i think its a two edged sword, as i reckon they also find things that genuinely sell well, bring in their own version and slowly cull the original.
Getting harder and harder to find some of the good stuff these days as the direct "clones" have taken over. ( Clones in all but taste that is )

Andrew

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Larryp

Woolies Bankstown had the bread you want, Peter. I think different branches delete items that do not volume sell, and cater to their local populations.
I guess Bankstown has a far greater immigrant population than Menai.

Really?

Hummm... Bankstown.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Don't get me started on bread and cheese... On another note I find it pretty distressing that 'those two' after having muscled out all the little operators out are now feeding us s||t on toast by lack of choice. They've branched into everything I can think of now... hardware stores, food distribution, petrol, car insurance and the latest: Masters home improvement out there to shaft the sparkies and plumbers. Duopoly from hell.

Down down, we're going down...

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Steffen

So true! Australia is bread hell.

As a German I cannot stand the white spongy stuff they're selling by the metric ton.

Cheers
Steffen.

Bravo Seffen ! Einverstanden !!!

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Don't get me started on bread and cheese...

I think we need a bread and cheese inspired revolution!

[Bassnut (Fred)]

The CEO of Woolies sole reason for existence is to "maintain shareholder value" (being a public company). If "lack of choice" increases profit, the CEO is required to comply, its his job. The board hires the CEO and specifies his task (as above). The board is made up of major shareholders, including superfunds. They also exist to serve investors (including you, via your super fund).

The only solution, is for you to write a letter to your super fund and DEMAND a lower profit, increased product choice, and of course lower payout on your super.

[Lee]

Surely you'll find a little boutique continental bakery somewhere in the metropolis you live in that will supply a loaf that will even blow Helga's away.... support the little guys....

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Peter, you could see if there is a market that sells Shepherd's Bakehouse somewhere convenient to you. They sell enough at Castle Hill markets that they opened a retail store in Castle Towers.

http://www.shepherds.com.au

[AstralTraveller (David)]

My local Aldi stocks Helga's Rye bread and I'm pretty sure they have the line you prefer. They also have a few other 'not flaccid white' lines containing lots of birdseed. Maybe it's the local clientele, perhaps it's their German heritage.

Oh, and you have reminded me.
A Warning! Mostly country bakeries are pretty good, or at least acceptable. We travel a bit and between my love of pies and her love of cake we've visited a few. One the way home from the eclipse, however, I needed to bye some bread from the only bakery in Dysart. Last time I make that mistake. Wall to wall flaccid, sweet white sliced. No choice. I suffered through about a third of it before I passed another town. And their pie rated about 1/10.

[blink138 (Pat)]

Originally Posted by Lee

Surely you'll find a little boutique continental bakery somewhere in the metropolis you live in that will supply a loaf that will even blow Helga's away.... support the little guys....

EXACTLY lee!
I would not have thought that perth is luckier than any other capital city but we have 'new Norcia" (who only do sour dough in all of its forms) bakery around the corner also THE best Italian continental market / deli the "re store"
in the weekend paper another serious bakery in mount lawley, plus of course a lot of French type patisseries
loads of choice, better bread and owner occupied in most cases
pat

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

The CEO of Woolies sole reason for existence is to "maintain shareholder value" (being a public company). If "lack of choice" increases profit, the CEO is required to comply, its his job. The board hires the CEO and specifies his task (as above). The board is made up of major shareholders, including superfunds. They also exist to serve investors (including you, via your super fund).

The only solution, is for you to write a letter to your super fund and DEMAND a lower profit, increased product choice, and of course lower payout on your super.

Gee... am I lucky I've run my own SMSF for the past 10yrs then. I can still tell them where to stick their bread one slice at a time. Sunny side up.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

The CEO of Woolies sole reason for existence is to "maintain shareholder value" (being a public company). .

Hey Fred.

We have a SMSF.

We even have share in Woolies.

But the Richard-heads running the joint (or should I say, those with their fingers in the till) are still working on a paradygm that was tossed in the bin years ago...."profit at all cost"

A Eureka moment (notably with Southwest Airlines) was "look after your staff, they will look after your customers, then, they will look after you"

I guess we'll catch up eventually...

But all I really wanted was a decent loaf of bread, for now...