I've decided to resurrect this big, and to pursue the intent behind it.
Whilst we - although for now it is just I, Stu - still like to shop locally, visit our markets and so forth, we still do a fair bit of shopping at the Duopoly.
I won't refer to them by name, just as the Duopoly. I'm going to try and explore the alternatives, highlight what I see as good options to explores; try and debunk myths that independent stores are more expensive; and highlight what you get in return: both with respect to the hidden costs of the Duopoly and what I see as the hidden pluses of shopping locally and independently.
Wish me luck.
Stu
Showing posts with label groceries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label groceries. Show all posts
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Groceries, West End Markets, The Powerhouse and Other Independents
Along with fuel, another difficult group of products to buy unchained is that of Groceries.
As with fuel, the market is controlled by a small number of retailers. In this case 70% market share (excludes convenience stores and other merchants e.g. fruit 'n' veg stores) resides with two dominant retailers: Coles and Woolworths.
It was really these two grocers that we had in mind when we set about undertaking this project. Their buying power and the means they undertake to secure favourable terms over their suppliers is well documented and I don't feel the need to repeat that here ad nauseum.
At a high level, some would see their ability to buy in bulk and at favourable terms as reflecting their prime positions at the head of the grocery service chain; others consider such dominance unhealthy and detrimental to local communities through the many smaller retailers they have invariably put out of business in their pursuit of dominant positions.
As with anything unchained, the consumer does have choice. Making alternative purchase decisions requires changes in habits and foregoing the apparent "convenience" of supermarkets with their longer opening hours and general accessibility.
Within the inner-West of Brisbane we are quite blessed with some good alternative sources of general groceries.
West End Markets
The West End Markets are set in the shade of the giant figs just a short hop from the Brisbane River. Selling food, fashion and limited amounts of general tat, the markets are a great source of unchained produce - much of it also organic. The website is very informative too - providing a small panel showing produce currently in season.
Jan Power's Famers' Markets
The Farmers' Markets operated by Jan Power have a regular schedule for the Greater Brisbane area. The markets we frequent most are those at the Powerhouse, New Farm on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. The markets are easily accessible by public transport too with the CityCat stopping conveniently at New Farm Park - also a great place to take some of that lovely produce just purchased and share with friends!
Fundamentals
Fundies is a great store in Paddington, billing itself as "one of Australia's leading retailers of natural & organic foods, with 5 stores situated in the Northern Rivers area and Brisbane. At Fundies...we are very selective about what we sell, with strict quality control and commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Of course there are other independent retailers around, those highlighted here are just some of those easily accessible within the Brisbane area and are also that we frequent most often.
As with fuel, the market is controlled by a small number of retailers. In this case 70% market share (excludes convenience stores and other merchants e.g. fruit 'n' veg stores) resides with two dominant retailers: Coles and Woolworths.
It was really these two grocers that we had in mind when we set about undertaking this project. Their buying power and the means they undertake to secure favourable terms over their suppliers is well documented and I don't feel the need to repeat that here ad nauseum.
At a high level, some would see their ability to buy in bulk and at favourable terms as reflecting their prime positions at the head of the grocery service chain; others consider such dominance unhealthy and detrimental to local communities through the many smaller retailers they have invariably put out of business in their pursuit of dominant positions.
As with anything unchained, the consumer does have choice. Making alternative purchase decisions requires changes in habits and foregoing the apparent "convenience" of supermarkets with their longer opening hours and general accessibility.
Within the inner-West of Brisbane we are quite blessed with some good alternative sources of general groceries.
West End Markets
The West End Markets are set in the shade of the giant figs just a short hop from the Brisbane River. Selling food, fashion and limited amounts of general tat, the markets are a great source of unchained produce - much of it also organic. The website is very informative too - providing a small panel showing produce currently in season.
Jan Power's Famers' Markets
The Farmers' Markets operated by Jan Power have a regular schedule for the Greater Brisbane area. The markets we frequent most are those at the Powerhouse, New Farm on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. The markets are easily accessible by public transport too with the CityCat stopping conveniently at New Farm Park - also a great place to take some of that lovely produce just purchased and share with friends!
Fundamentals
Fundies is a great store in Paddington, billing itself as "one of Australia's leading retailers of natural & organic foods, with 5 stores situated in the Northern Rivers area and Brisbane. At Fundies...we are very selective about what we sell, with strict quality control and commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Of course there are other independent retailers around, those highlighted here are just some of those easily accessible within the Brisbane area and are also that we frequent most often.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Unchain my thoughts, set me free....
It can be hard to change your thought process about what you need to do/buy in a day when you are trying to live an unchained life. Last night I was trying out my new sewing machine for the first time, and had to drag our big kitchen table over to a different wall in order to access the plug socket. Stu said to me 'why don't you pop to Bunnings tomorrow to pick up an extension lead'. We both had to pause for a moment to work out why this just didn't seem right...
The weather has turned colder now in Brisbane, and we don't have much in the way of cover up clothing for the baby, so I caught myself thinking 'I'll just pop to K-Mart to get her some more pyjamas'. Another no-no. Now this one IS going to be tough - I don't want to be going to exclusive baby boutiques to buy jamas for a 4 month old, but I can't think of anywhere cheap and cheerful that isn't a chain. Hmmmm...
At some point also I need to shop for groceries. I took the little one for her jabs this morning and she has been a bit sad ever since, so I didn't have the heart today, but we're running out of excuses. Oh, and food.
Ethical Consumer Guide
Some of the obvious outcomes of this undertaking are that it's making us think much more about business ownership models and the general provenance of consumer goods.
One useful aide we have stumbled across is the Ethical Consumer Guide from the Ethical Consumer Group. The Group states itself to be a "not-for-profit network set up to help facilitate more sustainable purchasing practices for the everyday consumer." Perfect!
The Guide itself is available in printed form but is also available as an iPhone app and is available as a reference tool via their website (see earlier link).
The Guide is exactly that - a Guide. If you choose - and remember as consumers choice is the greatest power we have - to use the Guide, I'd recommend reading up on the methodology of the Guide in order to understand how its ratings are derived. As an example Emma and I were surprised to learn that Ingham's were considered "Lesser Praise, No Criticism" by their legend. To us their intensive, factory farming, methods do not sit with our way of thinking sustainably and ethically.
I'll leave this post there. I'm not keen for this site to turn into a rant about sustainable farming practices - it's not about that and there are already plenty of resources on this. This is about two individuals trying to make the best choices possible and seeking to do this in a manner that is as independent i.e. "unchained" as possible.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A rule has been decided!
So, upon returning from the deli cafe at the Cat & Fiddle in Toowong having safely sourced some yummy coffees, we had another robust debate (I sense some of those on the horizon) about whether getting coffee from an independent (the cafe) that is manufactured by a chain (Merlo) is acceptable. Basically if the end retailer is independent, we think go ahead.
8 Hours in, and hit our first snag
As a rule on a weekend morning (and sometimes on a weekday morning, and sometimes just cos the day ends in Y) we treat ourselves to some coffee & croissants from the French Patisserie at our local shops (which are fortunately enough a little haven of lovely independents). HOWEVER! The French Patisserie, whilst being independently owned (as far as we can see) has 2 or 3 shops dotted around. Does this make it a chain? I think more than one shop means chain personally, but Stu reckons we can't think that way - otherwise we're ruling out too much stuff, and also how then do you support the local entrepreneur who wants to expand? Good point, but where do you draw the line....?
Welcome to Brisbane Unchained
Inspiration
Inspired by a blog post from Courier Mail food writer Natascha Mirosch and also by Dave Gorman's America Unchained, we (somewhat unoriginally) decided that for the month of May we should attempt to live an Unchained lifestyle.
What Does This Mean?
Basically in principal this means avoiding chains for everything: groceries, fuel, alcohol etc. It has also been mooted that we should shop as ethically as possible; reducing food miles, buying organic foodstuffs where possible, buying unchained too so products from large conglomerates etc could be out too.
The Rules
Much debate has been had about what constitutes a chain for us. Whilst it's easy to agree that Coles, Woolies etc are out, what does it mean for our favourite franchisees (I'm looking longingly at you Pizza Capers)? Also what does it mean for IGA? It's an independent chain of franchisees who are all nice and sell yummy food and are a bit.... well, nice? Can this really be an unchained month if we decide to include chains that we like? I think this is something we might have to work out along the way.... maybe our chaining instincts will kick in soon.
Mitigating Circumstances
We have my (Emma's) parents visiting us during May and whilst we shall attempt to influence their buying behaviours, we cannot necessarily guarantee that we be able to do so. They're old and a bit set in their ways! We also have a 3 month old daughter so sometimes we need to eat 'conveniently' at the end of what may have been a tiring day. This does not necessarily mean take-away (although once again, I'm looking longingly at you Pizza Capers) but could possibly mean a quick pasta 'n' sauce being knocked up to provide some sustenance.
What We Hope to Achieve?
Well we hope to prove, if only to ourselves, that it is possible to shop in a manner with consideration to the products being purchased. The original blog posting that inspired this commitment commented that 50% of off-sales in alcohol retailing are controlled by two organisations: Coles and Woolworths. Whilst, to us, these behemoths have a place in the retail service chain and do contribute significant amounts to the economy in terms of corporation tax and employment, there are plenty of other retailers in the local communities that contribute equally, if not more. Local stores tend to also then engage other service industries locally: accountants, other distributors and the benefits then flow through the local community further.
Supporting local stores will hopefully contribute to their survival and enable local stores to maintain a presence in local communities and not be driven out through excessive property rates which only larger chains can afford.
If anyone has read this far and sticks with us through the month - thanks! And if we then provide inspiration to others to undertake such an initiative then thank you on behalf of those recipients of your custom!
Inspired by a blog post from Courier Mail food writer Natascha Mirosch and also by Dave Gorman's America Unchained, we (somewhat unoriginally) decided that for the month of May we should attempt to live an Unchained lifestyle.
What Does This Mean?
Basically in principal this means avoiding chains for everything: groceries, fuel, alcohol etc. It has also been mooted that we should shop as ethically as possible; reducing food miles, buying organic foodstuffs where possible, buying unchained too so products from large conglomerates etc could be out too.
The Rules
Much debate has been had about what constitutes a chain for us. Whilst it's easy to agree that Coles, Woolies etc are out, what does it mean for our favourite franchisees (I'm looking longingly at you Pizza Capers)? Also what does it mean for IGA? It's an independent chain of franchisees who are all nice and sell yummy food and are a bit.... well, nice? Can this really be an unchained month if we decide to include chains that we like? I think this is something we might have to work out along the way.... maybe our chaining instincts will kick in soon.
Mitigating Circumstances
We have my (Emma's) parents visiting us during May and whilst we shall attempt to influence their buying behaviours, we cannot necessarily guarantee that we be able to do so. They're old and a bit set in their ways! We also have a 3 month old daughter so sometimes we need to eat 'conveniently' at the end of what may have been a tiring day. This does not necessarily mean take-away (although once again, I'm looking longingly at you Pizza Capers) but could possibly mean a quick pasta 'n' sauce being knocked up to provide some sustenance.
What We Hope to Achieve?
Well we hope to prove, if only to ourselves, that it is possible to shop in a manner with consideration to the products being purchased. The original blog posting that inspired this commitment commented that 50% of off-sales in alcohol retailing are controlled by two organisations: Coles and Woolworths. Whilst, to us, these behemoths have a place in the retail service chain and do contribute significant amounts to the economy in terms of corporation tax and employment, there are plenty of other retailers in the local communities that contribute equally, if not more. Local stores tend to also then engage other service industries locally: accountants, other distributors and the benefits then flow through the local community further.
Supporting local stores will hopefully contribute to their survival and enable local stores to maintain a presence in local communities and not be driven out through excessive property rates which only larger chains can afford.
If anyone has read this far and sticks with us through the month - thanks! And if we then provide inspiration to others to undertake such an initiative then thank you on behalf of those recipients of your custom!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)