What I Miss When Grocery Shopping




Who decides what product to pull off the shelf at our grocery stores?
It can be disappointing to customers, but it looks like as big business grows even larger, there can be a disconnect between what makes a customer happy and the decisions made behind the scenes based on macro factors, artificial intelligent analysis and shareholder returns.
The live local and slow food movement has supply decisions based on a lot of customer interaction, but what we see from huge and impersonal corporate decisions makes me frustrated at how difficult it is to still have access to products I love.
The upside for me is spending less time and purchases at retail stores that are out of sync with what I like to buy. Even contacting directly with the makers of such products can be of no help, as some inform me that they only deal with wholesalers. The relentless push to drive big margins and ever higher returns can be devastating but that is how contemporary capitalism seems to thrive on.
So here is a reflection of what I have missed, since they are no longer produced or so hard to get these days. They may not all be healthy to consume, but there was a sentimental connection. I reluctantly say Adieu to:
1. Red labelled malt Milo beverage powder.
2. Kitchen rolls that have a better strength and texture.
3. Fresh milk without additives and fancy labelling.
4. Red Tractor Oats with Omega 3.
5. Fresh fruits and veg that are irregularly shaped and sized - and have more character and taste than robot like same sized versions.
6. Bread loaves without unnecessary supplements, preservatives and artificial taste.
7. Eggs that are naturally sized and which do not defy nature.
8. Corn chips that still have taste despite not having added sugar and salt.
9. Juices that are not overhyped with promises that cannot be kept.
10. Products with less or unnecessary plastic packaging.

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