Similar with Lidl.

If you like certain "continental" foods (or foreign muck as my old lady called it), such as salamis and other cooked meats and cheeses, then they're way ahead of British supermarkets. Lidl also occasionally sell German Spaetzl (an egg noodle) that is a great alternative to potatoes. The last time they had it in our local store we bought 30 packs of the stuff.

But one thing I can recommend is their own brand tomato ketchup. I was always a Heinz man and couldn't bear Daddies or even worse, the "red sauce" usually found in cafes. Then someone (Minty IIRC), suggested I try Lidl's own, it just tastes of tomatoes, no hint of vinegar or anything else, just tomatoes. And it's even cheaper than the chips you put it on.

Yup, straight out of the 80s is this



When was the last time you visited a Morrisons?

Quote: Big Graeme "I'm no Tesco cheerleader but you are way off the mark there and I've eaten in enough of them. Oh and they are sub-contracted to a catering company who supply the staff food too. TReally? How many Morrisons have you been in? They are stuck in the '80s.'" Are you in Scotland? Maybe the Tesco cafes are better there. But the ones I've tried to eat in (granted not for some time as they look so awful and my memories are bad) have been disgusting. Morrisons - the ones I've been in are good - quite a few. The local one (their flagship store in the South) is good - deli with proper continental meats, nice wine display, steam racks to give the impression of keeping the salad fresh, etc www.bing.com/images/search?q=mor ... ORM=HDRSC2

Quote: Big Graeme "I'm no Tesco cheerleader but you are way off the mark there and I've eaten in enough of them. Oh and they are sub-contracted to a catering company who supply the staff food too. TReally? How many Morrisons have you been in? They are stuck in the '80s.'" Are you in Scotland? Maybe the Tesco cafes are better there. But the ones I've tried to eat in (granted not for some time as they look so awful and my memories are bad) have been disgusting. Morrisons - the ones I've been in are good - quite a few. The local one (their flagship store in the South) is good - deli with proper continental meats, nice wine display, steam racks to give the impression of keeping the salad fresh, etc www.bing.com/images/search?q=mor ... ORM=HDRSC2

Four of them on Thursday, and they didn't have anything like that.

It's true but you missed the "e" at the end of spaetzle or "Spätzle" Just sayin'

We have allsorts of technology south of the border

So it seems, what the hell are they?

I know for a fact that Asda are interested.
They use the mystery shopper to make sure staff are 'happy to help' those that are get a bonus.
Those that are not are reminded why it is important.

As do all the major supermarkets.

Then surely Minty can't be right that they are not remotely interested.

She couldn't be more wrong, now I'm not a fan of the major supermarkets but I've been in enough of them in the last three years to know they do care about the shopping experience.
There are lots of points the can be pulled up on mind.

They are misters for the herb and specialist salad island, utilising ice that is produced for the fresh fish slab. It's a good idea and does seem to keep cut herbs and salads in good condition. The downside is: once you prgress through the checkout, you can see the herbs visibly wilting but I suppose that's no longer Morrison's problem

Yeah. They want you in and out of their grotesque metal boxes as quickly as possible with the biggest spend possible.

Another one of Tesco's wheezes is, allegedly, that when the in store baked bread doesn't sell they slice it and put it on display next day. I always wondered why that sort of sliced bread of theirs goes stale so quickly or is sometimes stale when you open it.