You stated that Blythman's book is well out of date. So either Tesco treats it suppliers better these days – or the book remains accurate, on that issue at least.

I said her book was 10 years old, which it is - you're saying the rest, not me, as you quote the book therefore you must believe it is still relevant. I stated that things change, and gave an example of other investigative journalism that was relevant some 10 years previous, but not quite as relevant in 2013. Perhaps the publication of the book forced a change in habit? Who knows - show us some current info, and we could perhaps make that decision.

You said that her book was out of date – as a rather obvious attempt to discredit it in conversations about the here and now.

Now given that one of the major issues that Blythman raises is about the way in which all the major supermarkets treat producers and suppliers, it is entirely logical to ask whether, on the basis that you stated that the book is out of date, whether such an approach has changed.

This is what Coddy challenged you on. You stated that you hadn't said any such thing.

Now since you're the one who has attempted to discredit Blythman's book by suggesting that it is out of date, presumably you will be capable of explaining what has changed at Tesco.

On the grounds of your equivocating over what has been put to you, it seems fair to conclude that the treatment of suppliers and producers is not one of those things that has improved.

Of course, you could just be saying that the book is out of date, things change – and can get worse.

You example of other journalistic work is a total red herring.

If you want to convince people that this is the case with Blythman's book, and that things are not the same or worse at Tesco, then it's up to you to provide an illustration of that. After all, you're not even disputing Blythman.

And since you're the Tesco employee, defending the company, it is fair to assume that you are defending from knowledge. So you'll find it very easy to put some flesh on the bones of what you're attempting to claim by roundabout means.

I suspect Man in Madrid will run away and hide now.

I know someone who works at Tesco and has done for some years. He reckons they're a bunch of absolute shysters too, not least for opening more and more outlets without creating the support jobs to go with them. Thus he ends up having to travel right around the city he is based in to do what he does, an ever-increasing workload, but with no extra pay.

To be fair if you end up working at an Express store you might as well sign your soul to the devil as at least in a normal store you tend to stick to the same hours and always have the right to say no whereas in the local stores you have no set hours contract and as you say can do any hours and in areas with a number of stores be sent anywhere.

My understanding is that he deals with maintenance for a number if stores. bUt that as the number of stores has increased, including the express ones, his workload has gone up, with no additional renumeration, and he's expected to cover an ever-expanding area.

But given the state of the job market, people don't easily get to be able to duck the erratic-hours contracts, do they?

Slightly different but makes total sense.

100% right and Tesco play it to a tee making sure NI payments in particular are kept very tightly controlled.

I wonder how many Tesco employees need to claim in-work benefits to make ends meet? In other words, how much the company's profits – and Man in Madrid's junket, for that matter – are being subsidised by the taxpayer?

In fairness, it's not just Tesco. Boots used to be a great company to work for but now it's dire. Just about all the worst business practices you can think of and they treat their employees like scum.

Not as many as you would think most would kill for a 30 hour contract to get on that jolly...I'd guess the average accross Tesco is 15 or so.

Recruitment is definetly subserdised by the taxpayer as when they open up a store the local job centre forces everyone signing on to apply....hence the Costa 1700 figure came as no surprise as I bet that happened with them too.

I am not surprised to be honest the whole indusrty has gone to pot and people wonder why the staff are not all singing and all dancing when they serve them.

I'm very surprised Morrisons hasn't been mentioned in this thread.
Staff wise its appalling. Poorly trained, ignorant staff are the majority IMO.

Which (sort of) raises the issue of getting the City out of the equation.

Only a couple of years ago I recall the City slapping Tesco over the wrist because growth was not what was expected – even though the company had made a profit for the quarter in question.

The idea of unlimited growth is an utterly unsustainable situation to start with and is, I suspect, one of those factors behind this worsening treatment of employees: you're always having to find the funds to invest in new stores etc, so staff become a 'cost' that can be driven down. And indeed, good customer service is, in the shortest term, more costly than simply slamming the customers through the system with as little need for any interaction as possible.

Certainly not running away and hiding - after a long days work, I needed my dinner.

Espanyolswan, certainly not a jolly, as I'm away from my wife and children for more than a month, and missing the mighty Salford on our way to domination (!) - I'm trying to generate shareholder value in an emerging market: that's reality. It's what pays both of our wages.

Regarding NI, the majority of store staff work part time because they are predominantly working mothers or students, etc. It offers a work-life balance, fitting in hours around school, study and the like.

Holidays a year in advance? My sister-in-law works for a bank and has to book her holidays 18 months in advance. My friend works for a travel agents, and they have to do the same. Unique to Tesco? Don't think so.

Manchester United killing off rugby, hockey clubs - sorry, I don't understand what that's got to do with anything. I used Manchester United to show that the most successful are normally the ones that get slated first in this country: you've just proved my point, thank you very much.

I could give many, many examples of suppliers who have supplied Tesco for a long time who are very happy with the relationship they have. In the 5 years I have worked for Tesco, I have probably met upwards of 400 suppliers. I could count on one hand the number that have major issues. Granted, I'm not a buyer and don't deal with the commercial relationship. However, I do know that the volume they sell to consumers via Tesco enables them to supply a vast array of other retailers too. Remember - nobody is forcing them to supply anyone, they are selling a product into a free market.