Why is our food so expensive?
Friday 20th May 2011, 3:00PM BST.
Food prices are to be investigated by the JCRA
A MAJOR investigation into the huge gap between food prices in Jersey and the UK has been announced.
The competition watchdog – which has the power to demand files and records, and to demand entry to premises to look for evidence – is to be asked to look into profit margins on food by Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean.
He said that Islanders were rightly concerned about the difference in food prices, and that he wanted the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority to review the situation.
Food prices went up by 22% between December 2007 and March this year, well ahead of average price inflation.
The JCRA is in the final stages of a major report on heating oil and petrol prices that is due before the end of the month.
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it’s called captive market economics, and the major retailers and the states are running what is basically a price fixing cartel.
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How about a ban on private horse ownership to allow for more land to grow food locally. Rising food prices can surely be combatted to some extent by local production?
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is to be asked to look into profit margins on food by Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean.
Here we have the answer! Alan Maclean does not understand the dynamics the underpin distribution; he is asking the wrong question!.
Notwithstanding keen, even too keen purchasing, the reason that traders like Tesco do so well is they have first rate distribution systems. Jersey is decades behind the rest of Europe and the consumer is paying the price.
The JCRA will find no ‘smoking gun’ until it understands logistics.
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We don’t need an investigation, I’ll save the money and tell you – because we’re a captive market and the bas*ards can get away with it.
Ironically this greed has driven many local businesses into extinction, now that we have the internet we no longer have to suffer it. The only things I buy locally are food & petrol, and if it were economically viable to ship them in I would.
Think twice – shaft a local.
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“Food prices went up by 22% between December 2007 and March this year, well ahead of average price inflation”.
Because of pure greed and the Jersey consumer has no choice but to pay it.
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In view of the recent announcement of the CI Co-ops profits – around £294.00 profit per head of poulation based on Jersey and Guernsey having 160,000 population between the two Islands and a 28.50% POR (Profit on Return)on their turnover I also think its disgraceful. I don,t think any supermarket groups can retain those margins in the UK though I may be wrong (no chance).
There again just what does JCRA think they can do about it. I,d love to know what their solution is going to be when they find out just how much were being ripped-off by. Remember that though – 28.50% return, its phenomenal!
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yippee another mainland consultant at an extortionate fee will be brought in as local politicians are unable to understand the problem; its called ‘rip-off’ and has been going on for centuries using various excuses; shipping – customs – admin etc etc.
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#2 More land
And they want to build on the field opposite St Saviours school that is growing spuds as we speak!!!
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The problem we have is that our Ministers, who are supposed to act in the best interests of the public, allow a cartel to charge whatever prices they want!
Often the levels of customer service are appalling and the quality of produce is poor and yet we pay a higher price !
Rather than weakly “asking a question” Minister, how about you get stuck-in and sort it out ! Alternatively, give me the mandate and divert your salary to my account and I will happily fix it for you.
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I recently purchased 3 peppers from a local farm shop for £1. 3 peppers in the coop are £2.89 that is some mark up.
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Big investigation, with the result being what we all expect, we will all be told we are paying too much for food and then….wait for it…nothing will change!!!!
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A few people have mentioned and rightly so, this is to do with local businesses being completely greedy.
Food prices in Jersey grown in Jersey should be definition be cheaper than those shipped to the UK.
But they can get away with it because where else can you go (maybe amazon grocery section) to buy other food items.
Maybe it’s time islanders join a collective group and bought food from elsewhere cheaper (watch this space).
This is the same reason why i buy 90% of my non-food items online (mainly amazon) to avoid being ripped off!
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The answers must lie in high profits, high rental and, of course, GST.
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Just greed pure and simple.
They brought over waitrose to shut us up,one of the dearest stores in the UK.
You will not see crowds in their cars waiting to get in the one in the valley like you did when it was Morrison’s (the only store with UK prices)
Tip of the day.
99 pence store now selling jersey milk 1 litre 99p
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Is it election time already do we ask?
When poor old Alan sets a task,
For the JCRA to sink it’s teeth,
Into the price of our roast beef,
And the other costs of living here,
Like bread and cheese and ice cold beer,
The shopkeepers here can be vocal.
“Let’s all think twice and shop local”.
Those wise enough to plan ahead
Will use the internet instead
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It s a about time. We always have to wait until the sh..t hit the fan!!!
They are now looking at energy companies after years of abuse,now food and I am thankful to have GST, so the greedy ones start to get a serious reality check.
Why is there no French supermarket !!! That s a million dollar question…
Cant get wine under £5, butter / milk or eggs under a £1, don’t start me on the bread. So for me, essential food in Jersey is scandalous…
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Well done Alan Maclean for raising this issue – But why now ? -Why not when GST was introduced and food went up by 7% not 3% ?
Oh Alan, -you champion of the downtrodden -Do you feel the onset of election fever already ?
- get a thermometer and check -but no need to put sunblock on it -I feel that it is still going to quite a dark place
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I know this sounds a little bit ‘Soviet’, but I wonder if maybe a States supermarket could be set up selling things at a not-for-profit price?
Has this ever been tried in Jersey?
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I have lived in the UK for 9 years, Since returning to the island this year I am paying between 20-30% more than the UK on my weekly & monthly food shop.
The main culprit being foods brought into the island but have found local produce to contribute to at least half of this increase.
We need to stop this now, “rip off Jersey” is not very attractive.
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How come Tesco can sell loose Jersey Royals for only 24p a pound, when they are grown here, so no freight costs,and we’re paying anything from 90p to over a pound…doesn’t make sense to me!!!
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As comments come in more and more people are making the same point, Islanders are not being treated fairly and this is not the 1st or the last time.
The only way to be heard is to do something about it as a community. Look at what happened in Bristol recently when a community stuck together to say NO we will not take this.
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You can buy food on amazon now, was in uk last week and came thru the red channel to declare bread and milk!! hee hee… but true ..hey got some bargain carte noir coffee for 1.49 in brighton and its about 4 quid here but ok it was on special but i have seen it on special here too with about 15p knocked off…yeah right saving. So who,s coming round for a cuppa then as i,ve 10 jars of the stuff.
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why bother with a new report.
just blow the dust of the countless other reports gathered over the years , draw a conclusion and act on it.
no doubt there will the usual report on the high cost of building next.
is this what jersey archive was constructed for a large room to put all the old “not acted on” reports ?
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Overpopulation has driven up the cost of housing/accomodation so wages have to be higher to compensate so costs are passed down the chain in the form of retail pricing … reduce the population (or control the price of housing) and the problem would go away … but that’s unlikely to happen, too many vested interests !!
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Because it all comes by ship, freight costs and all that bull****. Then all the usual excuses for the local stuff. Morrisons are doing salad for 30p each in the uk pack of 4 toms, cucumber etc, go in your local store and it,s about 8 quid for an iceburg lettuce, and why are peppers being sold as each and not by the kilo. one pound and 22p in one local well known store, thought they were extracting the you know what!!
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Froggy 16.
We did have a French supermarket at St. Brelade, (Carrefour), but they couldn’t make it pay and decided to call it a day.
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Hello! – heard of GST, Minister? This adds 3%,this soon to be 5%, thanks to you and your ilk.
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Why is food so expensive in Jersey? Easy one to answer …. pure greed on the part of big business and pure ineptitude on the part of the States to control it! Simple!
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Agree with the Pepper Buyer. Cost of 3 peppers is outrageous in Checkers & Coop!! We are now using alternative veg in lasagne and stir fry etc. What also annoys us is the fact that offers in the 2 stores seem to be linked. For example if Heinz tomato sauce is on offer in one store it is often on offer at the same time in the other…,.,coincidence?
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Bella
I to thought Waitrose to be the most expensive, I was pleasantly surprised. Organic wholemeal bread, Waitrose brand £1.31. Coop, baked in-store wholemeal loaf £2.15. Birds eye potato waffles, Waitrose £1.77 Coop £2.77. UK asparagus, not from Thailand or Peru, Waitrose £1.64 Coop £2.92. 4 cans of Scrumpy Jack cider W. £4.30 C.£4.99. Even tobacco is cheaper. Go check it out you’ll be surprised
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Never mind the food, what about weatherspoon’s coming to jersey’s waterfront………. todays town hall…..how many more uk firm’s can we allow into Jersey.
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It’s called customers. The entire population of Jersey wouldn’t equal the footfall in a medium sized supermarket in UK. Plus five major groups cutting each other’s throats.Petrol is the curent sweetie. Also own brand goods. For instance a loaf of Hovis in my local Tesco, yesterday on offer £1.15 for a large thick cut loaf. Tesco valua brand large loaf thick cut 47p.
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Two reasons as far as I am concerned the continuing application of 20% under the guise of import costs and greed. A captive audience is much easier to fleece due to no option to go elsewhere.
This was flagged up to McLean at the last hustings, only taken him two and a half years to start to show an interest!
Build a bridge and be done with this greed factor. Cheaper and better French food has to be the way to go from a health and monetary point.
Some people I know already get their food direct from the UK to bypass GST.
12. Yes it is about time that a group was set up to bring in food products and bypass the retailers we would save a fortune. I would be up for this. A state owned non profit ferry to bring in tourists and goods would also be a good way to cut costs.
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Hi all,
Can I get some help with this, I’m a bean and as such, not too bright. Or so I’m lead to believe.
Jersey has its own inherent economy and whilst it’s not immune to the Global Finance Meltdown, still has a great deal of it’s GDP being generated. Taxation is up and we are being told public sector spending is going down.
So why is it that with all this apparent stability we enjoy should costs be going up in the shops and freight/shipping costs continue to climb?
A specialist supplier of fantastic food told me recently that he stopped shipping to Jersey because it was too expensive and bound up in bureaucracy (more like bureaucrazy!) He was put off trading here because he could ship his products to places like Turkey and Gibraltar cheaper than the thin sliver of water that divides us from the UK, and that made no commercial sense whatsoever.
Am I and so many others being conned here, or can the more intelligent One’s that rule us and our lives justify what we pay?
Answers on a flying pig please.
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The image jersey presents to the outside world is one of a wealthy community , people in uk think that everyone is rich (little do they know), therefore uk companies charge what they think they can get , it happens everywhere , the further north you go in england the cheaper the food prices as wages are considered to be lower and they cannot afford to pay southern prices . jersey gets hit on everything because you are captive and supposedly rich maybe the states should stop portraying jersey as an island of millionairs and show it as it really is with the majority being normal working people who dont have a fortune to throw around . the sooner they show the uk how it really is the better for everyone
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The evidence is clear that the current system is corrupt. You don’t even need to compare prices with other economies to see the evidence.
The difference in price between product’s in local shop’s, not more than 50 feet down the road from each other is amazing to behold.
On everyday item’s, there can be a difference of up to a £1 depending on what shop you go to.
This alone should be ‘enough’, to get people asking question’s.
If I can buy an ‘Island Bakery’, white sliced loaf from shop A for £1.30. And then buy the exact same loaf from shop B for £2.30. Surely something must be wrong.
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Glad to see Waitrose is giving you some quality product at lower than normal Jersey prices.
I’m not resident but wondered how store prices there compared with UK Waitrose prices??
(Long Waitrose www address for current offers follows)
ie
http://www.waitrose.com/shop/BrowseCmd?categoryName=Groceries&catalogId=10001&level0Aisle=Groceries&eVar3=&eVar4=&redirectURL=&sortValue=¤tPageURL=&categoryName1=Groceries&fhQuery=fh_location%3D%252f%252fwaitroseproduct%252fen_GB%252fcategories%253c%257bwaitroseproduct_10051%257d%252fbranchid%253e%257b651%257d%26omitxmldecl%3Dyes&SELECTEDGLOBALFILTERLIST=On_Offer&searchTerm=&categoryName=Groceries+&categoryId=waitroseproduct_10051_10059_10096&level0Aisle=Groceries&SELECTEDLOCALFILTERNAME=&SELECTEDLOCALFILTERNAME=&customerView=
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Hi “Just a local” @34
Inevitably there is a crossover here with GST.
GST in reality is such a small proportion of the issue.
The following is a quote from a certain little pig :
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…Really, the most cursory examination of the evidence shows that sales taxes of one form or another are found as important components of the taxation structure of pretty much every advanced western type democracy.
To oppose sales taxes on principle is to attempt to fly in the face of every reasoned assessment of international tax practise.
However, having said that, I did, contrary to the impression you give here [there], oppose the introduction of GST – at this stage. I did so, not because I oppose sales taxes – as explained above, you have to make a conscious decision to ignore the facts to oppose on principle – but because the cost base of living in Jersey is far too high at present.
I believed that whilst we should introduce sales taxes at some point, the States and the JCRA had a moral obligation to beat down prices on the Jersey high street first. Instead, the task of combating market-rigging, price-fixing cartels, restrictive trade agreements and abuse of dominant position has barely begun. Certainly no great effect has yet materialised in the RPI.
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This little piggy went to prison for “whistleblowing” and an out of date driving licence and attempting to protect the more vulnerable on this island.
HIDS x.
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Allowing the most expensive supermarket in the UK(Waitrose) to trade in Jersey can only put prices up.
Why was Tesco, Asda or one of the proper supemarkets not allowed to come.
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If the greedy fat cats MINISTERS/DEPUTIES/DANDARA stopped developing the little land space we have, then farmers could grow more crops for all of us!
Why not bring back space for allotments, when building a housing estate!
Mind you some little terp will steal/wreck it i suppose!
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Tray (20) How come Tesco can sell loose Jersey Royals for only 24p a pound
Logistics, logistics, logistics. Tesco can ship (from Spain), distribute and sell and bank the cash in under 24 hours. Can a Jersey Market trader do the same from fields surrounding St Helier? No.
Could a Jersey Market trader do better? Yes but there is a lot to be done. Price is only part of a complex equation.
Thrifty shopper (30) Spot on and Waitrose is not best in class. Things can only get better.
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Who wants a French supermarket. Last month the chickens at the LIDL in Combourg were more expensive that M&S here. A cauliflower was 80p from our local farm shop, 2 Eoros 80 in the Hyper U.
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Because Jersey is shrouded with greed and always will be and we keep on hearing the same old record, If everyone on this island voted with passion we wouldnt have so many self opinionated greedy power freaks runing the goverment.
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Yes, why is our food so expensive? (There is no justification for the amount of profit and don’t fob us half intelligent folk with the ‘shipping costs’ drivel)
We are bang smack in the middle of the UK and France where you can buy the same things for a third of your weekly shopping bill here!!!!!
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Might be a bit naive of me to say this, but wouldnt it be better to have a big UK store having a prescence on the island but in a limited capacity – say a Tesco Metro store or a Sainsbury Locale and limit it to one or two stores maximum.
That would then start to bring the prices down in the other stores and also give people the choice to use either these stores or the markets, local small shops etc.
BECAUSE THE PRICES ARE TOO MUCH
As I can already hear the wealthy and possibly (but not necessarily) snobbish people muttering, I will go and take my medication (reduced price of course)
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When is something going to be done with food that is marked up on the pack at £1, and then you get to the checkout and they add a further 3% soon to be 5%, I thought this practice was illegal yet it is rife in all the shops especially at one chain of supermarkets in Jersey.
And the simple answer to the price difference between Jersey & the Uk is greed and the fact that no one votes with their feet, there is always France once a month which with a car on a day trip works out cheaper, you have more choice – the list is endless
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Makes me wonder what the JCRA s been doing for all this years.
We shouldn’t have to be wait until we are in the deep hole before they react.
They should prevent these greedy people to act as they do and not wait for them to take the piss so much.
We all know that when the price of petrol goes up, prices go up, but when it goes down, they never go down or if they do, it will be 3 month down the line by a ridiculous amount.
JCRA: watch the news and work out your maths.
And please next time, don’t wait for spring to investigate energy prices.And also check out Jersey Gas while you are it (before next winter if possible). Thanks
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If you think prices are expensive here, you ought to take a trip to Alderney. Prices there will make your eyes water.
The smaller the population the higher the prices due to the higher per customer costs.
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Punnet of strawberrys from farm shop this morning £2.30 coop price £3.99
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35 Jeff – how right you are. We left Jersey 10 yrs ago – my husband Jersey born and myself living in Jersey since 14 yrs old – both now retired. When we moved to France all the English – fortunately not many living in our small hameau – all said “oh you’re from Jersey, you must be rich”. No we are not rich but it was necessary to leave Jersey to enjoy our retirement having sold our house. Needless to say we don’t get involved with many English but have many French friends. We both firmly believe that it was the English who ruined Jersey – they must have what they left behind. The same applied to Spain and now look at it. Fortunately the French people don’t give way to the English demands. It is very sad the way the island has gone, it was once beautiful – no large buildings; not too many cars and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables locally grown. But supermarkets is what people wanted and supermarkets is what they now have – and they are all crooks. Only considering the dividends to pay out to their main directors and shareholders.
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Four pints of milk with 20 of vat purchased in saisburys Kingston upon Thames just now. ……………. £1
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Unadulterated GREED, the Jersey way!
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Mark 41
Tray (20) How come Tesco can sell loose Jersey Royals for only 24p a pound
Logistics, logistics, logistics. Tesco can ship (from Spain), distribute and sell and bank the cash in under 24 hours. Can a Jersey Market trader do the same from fields surrounding St Helier? No.
1) they can’t really be JERSEY Royals then if they come from Spain.
2) why can’t the local farmers distribute, bank & sell in under 24 hours?
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Almost £4 for a 500g tub of margarine, almost £3 for 6 vine tomatoes, up to £2.50 for a loaf of bread and (in Waitrose) up to £5 for a few slices of ham.
All this just to make a basic hame and tomato sandwiche!!
….only in RIP-OFF JERSEY!
Walk in to SPAR to pick up a handful of essential items and you’d be extremely lucky to get any change from a tenner!
Why is Jersey Milk so expensive for Jersey residents?
The dairy claims it’s due to increased fuel and packaging costs….well, why do they not revert to glass bottles which can be recycles easier…..if people return the bottled then they get reduced milk price…simples!!
I remember as a kid there was an incentive of 10p for every 1 ltr glassd bottle returned to a store……re-introduce this incentive and you’ll see more people willing to recycle.
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A bridge to France would sort it out. Just build one and watch the Jersey retailers suddenly wanting to be more competitive and client-centred!
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It isn’t. Some things are, and some things are not. There is no material difference regardless of the moaning that will follow my post from the vocal minority.
Sen Ozouf might not be liked, but he is keeping a steady ship, which is what we need in these times of uncertainties. He is our Barack Obama!
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Because we are being ripped.
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RT
You talk utter tosh…..if I didn’t know any better I would think you were actually P Ozouf himself…..
If you don’t think our food is so expensive then frankly you are living in a land of fantasy (or politicians!).
Wake up and enter the REAL WORLD, “Real Truthseeker”!
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Hi RT @56
Good to see that you haven’t lost your grip on unreality and tripe.
You will hear the odd moan from the “vocal minority” – but behind them are an (almost) silent majority – and if you listen real careful you may even hear them rolling their eyes in unison.
Ozouf – Obama ….Ha !
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(Are You For) Real Truthseeker. If I understand your comment you seem to think that prices are no different from the UK in general which in fairness probably is correct. However much that may be true across the board, we are talking specifically about food.
After all a standard loaf of bread can be purchased for 39 pence in UK supermrkets (probably cheaper) whereas the price range here is between £1 and £1.70 (unless you get a loaf to be used by the next day). A 2 pint carton of milk is over £1.00 here whereas a 4 pint carton is about £1.25 in UK etc etc etc.
So yes no difference at all over the course of a year on your groceries if you do your shopping the real truthseeker way.
The ship (as you put it) is not steady – it has run aground and it won’t budge unless the rescue plan is set in motion.
After all these years I thought that eating food and general survival on a budget would be the one certainty that most people have in their life and as such they need to be able to afford to do so, but I was wrong and I am in a minority – thank you for enlightening me RT.
Hmmmmmmmm
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That’s why mum’s go to Iceland….
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Parktown Prawn (53) Mark they can’t really be JERSEY Royals then if they come from Spain.
Sorry Parktown.
1) That was just an illustration of the efficiency of Tesco retail logistics. You are correct, Jersey Royals can ship, be distributed and sold in well under 18 hours, most of which is with Condor
2) why can’t the local farmers distribute, bank & sell in under 24 hours? They could if they put their mind to it, but they lack economies of scale and insight. Even the Jersey farm shop is unlikely to bank the ‘retail sale’ the day the crop is lifted.
This is a truly complex subject. Input prices, and profits are just part of the retail mix. Ask the professionals, if you can find one in Jersey. You are however correct to conclude that Jersey is too expensive. By my research and estimation Tesco was three times more efficient that a large local retailer. Enough said.
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This is an example of why a large number of St Saviour parishioners have voted against destroying another agricultural field. We need to save the fields we have left or milk prices will go up so will our spuds etc. Buy local we are told – soon there won’t be anything local to buy and eat. Maybe a few Dandara bricks?!!
We are being also ripped off as captive market. I can’t believe how much my food shopping has gone up the last few years. Not by a few pounds either, it is a massive increase and we haven’t had pay rises to cover this so we are just worse off.
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34. I was wondering that. I was in Gibraltar last year. The same Gibraltar that is over 1000 miles from the Uk. However, the Morrisons there is cheaper than in Jersey. It is also considerably warmer (hitting around 36 deg. on a Summer´s day) meaning certain foods will need additional chilled transport, I´d have thought. How on earth is it still cheaper to get to Gib than it is Jersey?
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Is it that non-Jersey companies charge us UK prices (to cover the cost of freight), add GST AND THEN laugh all the way to the bank because their profits are TAXFREE!
Companies should have to display their tax rate (speed limit type signs) at the door – then we consumers could vote with our feet.
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Darren, that is correct, and am glad you agree with me that overall, expenses are not materially different, even though some food items might be more expensive here than the UK (and others cheaper).
However that is an utterly ridiculous proposition as the Jersey economy is considerably stronger than the UK (key indicators being unemployment / inflation / growth rates) are all stronger for JErsey. These are facts for all the vocal minority want to disagree with it!
To compare our prices to the UK, is like comparing our prices to India, and saying that food there is considerably cheaper, and therefore we should have the same prices as India.
There is no logic in such a comment (nor logic by the vocal minority). The simple point here is that these products are bought and sold in Jersey, people pay this money, if they didn’t the price would drop – it’s called Supply and Demand.
The average salary here is much higher than the UK which also follows that prices will therefore be higher. Simple.
Darren, please choose the right path, and don’t go down the idiotic, uneducated thoughts of what the great unwashed basket weavers bang on about all the time.
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Prices are what they are because we the consumers have the money and the inclination to pay them. End of.
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RT – “he Ozouf)is keeping a steady ship”
A ship stuck on the rocks really doesn’t take too much steadying.
It’s much more difficult to do it when its afloat.
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RT
I think you have misunderstood my point in that I do not generally agree with your views and to be honest I am happy that that is the case.
Food is a necessity for everyone on the island but the prices are way too high. However you are right to say that supply and demand dictates the prices. The economy may be strong – but it could be stronger as other posts have mentioned, poeple go to France and load up for the month whereas it would be better if people spent on the island.
If prices were cheaper there would be more of these products being brought instead of the amount of items going to waste (which I believe is an article elsewhere on this site). I am not saying that prices should be the same as the UK – however, can it be justified that shipping costs force a charge of 50% increase on a lot of items – even when brought in en masse. I don’t think so, and in addition this shouldn’t be determined by what the average wage ratio on Jersey is
If you have a big player from the UK mainland having a store (albeit a small store) on the island it will bring these over-inflated prices down and that cannot be a bad thing for the majority of people who are on a moderate salary or the great unwashed basket weavers as you call them (which I find offensive and typical of the sort of comments you regularly post – in addition I am proud to fall into that category as I work very long hours for little financial gain). However, neither am I a Robin Hood figure.
Your comment that salaries here are much higher may be true but do we really want to go down the inevitable road of forcing higher taxes and VAT – as this would probably be the next step in the States Grand Design of their vision of a Utopia – get the lower paid out and bring in all the rich folk and there will be no crime, everyone can pay for hospital treatment without having to be subsidised, no benefits required, sunshine all day and coming out of everyone’s backside etc
Just possible, but who knows
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Mike – SPOT ON!!!!
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(64)
Morrison’s have put in a bid for Iceland along with sainsbury and others.
Being our Iceland is a franchise is neither here nor there,we could be back to square one,with the only value for money store gone unless it is sold to the bidder.
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Darren, you claim to disagree with me, but continue to substantiate everything I say, however you fail to connect two critical points. Supply and demand dictates the prices, and since salaries are greater here relative to the UK then demand will be stronger bringing up prices.
Accordingly, this brings about people who want to buy more to go and get themselves into a position to earn more to buy more. I can hardly think it is fair when someone whines about not having enough, but then fails to do anything about it – granted the disabled (mental and physical) may not have the ability, and therefore we need a safety net, but the rest? Not at all.
The clear point is, if someone chooses not to improve their earning capacity it is their choice – but they can hardly turn aroudn and moan about not having enough money.
I wousl suspect that someone like yourself Darren finds considerable non-financial benefit from your employment that you rank higher than any financial gain. I personally enjoy elements of my work, and some is boring, however I enjoy the financial benefits that this brings. Either way the point is made – it is down to choice.
If people want to earn more they would be beter placed to spend their time away from these sort of blogs and study. Otherwise be happy with your choices.
I suspect you are Darren, but the majority moan when they could do something about it.
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Real Truthseeker,
As an incredibly vocal individual on this website who can often be found in a minority of one, you are in any position to crassly be judging those who oppose your views as being a “vocal minority”.
With that in mind, please don’t expect to be taken seriously.
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Bella @ 14and Thrifty Shopper @30
What about the bread in both ’99p shop’ and now M&S at 3p or 4p over that. How long will it be before we hear that our local bakeries need protection from outside competion? You needn’t stop at food, go to France or the UK for building materials, tools in fact just about anything and it is indicative of just how much we are being RIPPED OFF.
Many on here get histerical about GST; Well TVA or VAT as we know it exists on food in France @ 5.5% And although there is no VAT on UK food (yet) both countries run rings round our local stores.
Open the market to any that wish to have a store here, the inducement would surely be that they will pay no tax on their profits, 0/10.
Vivre Le Internet Aussi
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(71) Morrisons have not yet put in a bid for Iceland. At the moment any suggestion of an offer being made is in the very early stages. In any case, the original founder of Iceland is preparing a counter offer. Sainsburys have not yet indicated an interest, as they already have a sizeable convenience store operation which Morrisons is looking to break into. However the principle of your comment is the same. Iceland is only a franchise, and a Morrisons take over of the parent company would probably lead to the closure of this franchise, thus taking the store full circle and back into Sandpipers hands, who would no doubt attempt to sell the property.
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GST is levied on shipping and transport costs from the UK.We are an island with no choice but to ship and retailers, especially small businesses have to pass on that cost to their customers. Removing GST from UK shipping costs would be simple and above all, fair.Next month GST will rise to 5%.It will destroy most of our village shops, whom have to pay by the pallet, rather than the container load.Remove GST on shipping and transport now!
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Jersey is now a very expensive place to live. Constant immigration has meant wages are now low, many people would be better off living in the UK or other locations.
As to the idea that the States should set up a shop for ‘cheap’ food – are you mad – have the States ever done anything that reduces costs. Everything they touch costs at least 50% more than estimated!
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There are vast disparities in the pricing between the various supermarkets, farm shops and the market traders and it pays to shop around. Inconvenient I know, but it does pay.
Most Jersey fresh produce on the shelves is not just overpriced compared to imported goods, but of inferior of quality and I am very saddened to say that I usually forego local produce in favour of better quality and better priced imported goods.
The products offered by Amal Grow and Genuine Jersey are in my view appalling and expensive and I never buy them.
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Bored of Spin what have you just contributed? Nada.
If you look at the make up of the States, when it comes to election times the community has always chosen wisely in the majority. That is why we have Ozouf. If you read the vocal minority on here you woudl think Ozouf wouldn’t have a chance at the next election if his term was up, but I guarantee the majority who don’t rant on here woudl vote for him.
Irrespective of that, there are quite a substantial amount of my supporters on here and elsewhere in the community.
When you call yourself Bored of Spin, you might want to think of the oxymoronic (or is it just plain moronic?) aspect of your comments to say I am the only person with these views.
You are your lot need to stop spin – that is why you loose elections.
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Here’s an idea….beat the greedy lot at their own game
start a co-operative:
- buy all the proudce cheaper from france/uk
- volunteers (members) run shop so overheads minimised
- pass on savings to local customers
fancy it?
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Why the food is so expensive?
Here you have straight and simple answer:
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2011/05/23/co-op-post-profits-of-47-million/
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That Iceland stuff will eventually kill you…
If we are down to feed on Iceland, it is the end.
If you think that big supermarkets must have very good accounts with shipping companies.
They trade on regular basis with big containers.
Shipping cannot be that expensive. Certainly not what they are trying to make us believe.
Certainly not worth as much as the 20% UK VAT
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RT
I bet that the majority of people that don’t rant on here about elections are probably realistic enough to know that there is little point in doing so – as nothing will ever change other than the faces – much as we would like this miracle to happen.
The problem is not the senators – it is the system itself as there is never going to be change because the money issue is king and understandably so. After all this is an island and has to cut its cloth accordingly. But as I intimated on earlier posts we are only 14 miles from France (at the shortest point) and 100 miles from the UK. Surely shipping costs cannot be so expensive as to double prices on food. If prices have to be higher, then do this on non-essential items
I am probably naive, but surely that is common sense
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The two main reasons are SandpiperCI and GST.
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Mike 67 Not all the consumers have the money but have no choice but to pay as we and our Children need food to survive,and I am talking about the essentials that people need to get by not the luxury goods that used to be deemed a treat and now are unaffordable to most,some people just need to go and have a look around Jersey and see how many folk are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Real Truth Seeker: I just do not have words to describe your total lack of understanding in peoples hardship.
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‘However that is an utterly ridiculous proposition as the Jersey economy is considerably stronger than the UK (key indicators being unemployment / inflation / growth rates) are all stronger for JErsey. These are facts for all the vocal minority want to disagree with it!’
Beans need to learn something… the UK is a much bigger place than Jersey. Everytime a bean comes up with a statistic they end up treating the UK as if its the same all over. Figures for the UK are the average for the country. The reality is that there are poor parts of the UK and well off parts of the UK and shocking I know, some of those places are richer and have lower unemployment than Jersey.
Can I ask all beans that in the future, when you quote a UK statistic that you use your noggin and mention that it is just an average. We don’t all live in council estates and shoot people. We have some very nice areas, with high incomes, big houses, nice countryside etc…
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Insight into import charges….
Current shipping charges for an independant trader are approx £69 per pallet of non-perishable goods & £115 for frozen/chilled goods from Ferryspeed via Condor. Huelin Renouf only have containers (no roll-on,roll,off ) but are £58 per pallet for “dry”-goods. A “cost price” is “delivery included” to a UK address (in Jersey companies instance, it will be either Portsmouth,Poole or Southampton & then the above charges are added to each pallet, as then is GST – ie somewhere like a CD/DVD store would get a good amount of value on 1 pallet compared to a bicycle which, when boxed could maybe fit a couple on a pallet – ie £60 diveded by 2 bikes is going to increase the cost to the consumer whereas the cd’s can absorb the frieght.
Question is (& perhaps some of you have the answer/reason…) why didn’t/doesn’t Guernsey & Jersey buy/rent a “Clipper/Goodwill” – type freighter itself , thus cutting down “cost-prices” instead of paying ever increasing fees to Conder ?!?! If items were cheaper then the high streets would be more busy & the internet less attractive?!
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Yes (80)
We can see clearly why they set the highest priced shop in for competition.
£47 million profit in a recession!
Get out of that one ,if you can states.
Ripped off all ways for the very essentals of life.
Junk food is the only food most of us can afford.
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Dear Slawek,
The £47M is gross profit – ie before the cost of trading. The Co-op’s bottom line, after paying divi, was £3.74 mllion or 1.72% of turnover. All of this will be re-invested in the fabric of the business as we are a “not for profit” organisation, owned by our customers. Hope that is helpful.
Regards Peter Roffey
President CICS
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I admire Peter Roffey for getting involved in the debate.
Unfortunately for all of our retailers, the internet has opened our eyes. We now have the opportunity to compare prices, but even more unfortunate is the fact that States members appear to have conflicts of interest, or a different agenda to most of us.
It would be nice to see Tesco & Asda arrive to challenge CICS, hopefully the competition will force them to stop ripping us off
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85 Ben
May I suggest that before you start slagging off “beans” for quoting UK statistics you first find out the nationality of the person you are responding to……Real Truthseeker is from New Zealand!!
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Beaumont 89
Do you not think that Tesco and Asda would not have already got involved if they thought it was worthwhile?
They would never work for the 1.72% nett profit that the CICS end up with and do not see the potential for larger profits.
So many of the comments here come from people who have no idea of the retail trade. They all think you just sit behind the till funneling money into your bank.
Carrefour, a large French supermarket, could not make it pay and left Jersey quite quickly some years ago.
The internet works by having little stock to hold, premises in the middle of nowhere at minimal rents and insurance, cheap labour and no manning and maintainance of expensive town centre stores,no display, plus they don’t have to sell the products, the public do their buying (the expensive bit) without assistant attention, plus there is minimal after sales cover.
To anyone who thinks retailing is easy, I say, go on give it a go. I bet 99% of you would be bankrupt within 1 year.
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nigel retailing is virtually a dead duck. It has been superceeded by the virtual world. Even food is being bought online now.
Who needs a middleman taking a cut when going direct to the manufacturer saves you money?
BTW what do you see as a good profit? 5%, 20%, 50% or 100%? Also do you use import costs as an excuse for charging VAT equivalent prices or do you take off 20% of UK prices?
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‘May I suggest that before you start slagging off “beans” for quoting UK statistics you first find out the nationality of the person you are responding to……Real Truthseeker is from New Zealand!!’
As an Aussie who has lived in Jersey but now resides in south London, can I apologise. The fact he is a kiwi, where their best statistic revolves around sheep, sums it up really.
4 more years RT. 4 more years! LOL.
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Nigel 89
Do Tesco, Asda and the like pay “divi”?
No.
Therefore based on CICS turnover of approx £217.44m and gross profit of £47m I calculate they could make at least 21.6% profit. Not bad considering.
However, in reality, with their financial clout and economies of scale I’m sure they could make much more…..even with such a captive market as Jersey.
They would also take away a lot of business from other sectors because Tesco’s can sell clothing and CD’s/DVD’s too, amongst other things.
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90 odd comments! says it all really! I would say about time but really there’s no need for an investigation all the answers are here on this thread!
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Real Truthseeker 78
Re: “…that is why you loose elections.”
“Loose elections!” – Just how exactly do you “loose” elections?
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Because we live on an island dominated by commerce ?
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Ben – what has 4 more years got to do with it?
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I have to agree with Adrian – retail is a dead duck. The only thing we need to buy locally is food. The rest – furniture, electrical goods, clothes – my family buys over the internet.
But this doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Think of all the shops in town that could be converted to other, more interesting uses than simply selling stuff. Art galleries, yoga studios, urban sports, meeting places. We just need a bit of imagination so that town becomes a place to visit because there are fun things to do there, not just shopping.
And as far as food is concerned, we should grow what we can here and sell it through markets. It is a shame that so much land will now lie fallow until the next potato season. Think of the courgettes, tomatoes, beans and pumpkins that could be thriving now, and when sold, feeding money back into the Jersey economy. That’s the way to get food prices down: grow and sell it here.
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“Art galleries, yoga studios, urban sports, meeting places.”
I cannot see many if any of those places meeting the rent, let alone providing the money paid by a fairly pedestrian job in Jersey.
If Jersey retail is going to die than we could be left with a permanent unemployed class of people that used to do these jobs.
Add in the likely end of the fulfillment industry and Jersey may have long term problems on it’s hands.
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Cannot believe the cost of food on your sunny Isle!
nearly passed out when I seen the cost of things in the co-op,
I just got some of your lovely jersey royals in my local superstore today (Uk) for 24p a bag, your less then adorable states men need a good kick up the A**e, your crippling your own people, with your rise in un-employment, those on welfare will soon not be able to feed their families, What then? begging! petty crime to get food!!!!!! sort it out and make Jersey the fantastic place we all love to visit, while we can still afford it.!!!!!!!
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Parktown Prawn 94
You do not appreciate that the 4 or 8% (Tues and Weds) divis that the CICS pays is not profit but a return to the shopper. Therefore if you shop on Tues or Weds you only pay 92pence not £1.
Adrian 92.
Can you really do all your shopping satisfactorily on the internet? How do you see if an article of clothing fits you nicely? How do you know if a settee or bed is comfortable?
I suppose you use the local specialist shops to glean your information. Well when people like you have no local shops to go to, where will you find out about what you are purchasing?
It would be interesting to know what your occupation is as we could avoid dealing with you as you do not support local establishments.
Perhaps we could replace you with an internet company.
One way or another, by shopping on the internet you are eventually going to do yourself out of employment as there will be no-one able to afford to use your services.
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The price of food on this island is digusting!!!! One of my huge grizzles is the price of bread,for example the yellow supersoft, baked here in the island as all the bread is and yet we pay from £1.79 a loaf!!!!! Day light robbery.
I know people will knock waitrose and their food but i now buy waitrose 1/2 and 1/2 bread for a comfortable £1.28 per loaf. The funny thing is that on the bag it has made in the uk, how can this be???? It should be at least £2 per loaf after shipping, no?
I have also noticed though that some food has already gone up by 6p+ and not on the shelf either, so check your receipts!! Crafty b*****s are at work here!
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Nigel
Please forgive my ignorance, but I do not see the relevance of your post 102 in response to mine at 94.
You mentioned in an earlier post that Tesco et al would not come to Jersey for a paltry 1.72% net return (based on CICS profits).
My subsequent remark was to point out that unlike CICS, Tesco et al do not pay a “divi” and therefore their profits would be much higher……a nice little carrot don’t you think?
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We’re being ripped off on loads of other things over here, as well as extortionate food prices we have to pay over the odds for mobile phones and broadband internet services too!
I received a leaflet about a cheaper broadband service the other day, but it conveniently didn’t mention the £44 connection fee until I made further enquiries, so I’m still stuck with paying a higher rate each month to my current provider! I’m totally sick of the pure greed of most of these companies and would love to tell them all where to stick their broadband service!
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Nigel,
While I disagree with Adrian on most things, I agree with him fully on this.
When you talk of supporting “local establishments”, most of us will do if the prices are comparable to the internet and the establishment adds value: I made a high value purchase at Normans last week because they had theproduct I wanted (after researching it on the internet) and they could provide useful advice.
But most retailers add no value. They are simply middlemen who are taking their cut. The staff aren’t well paid so make little tax contribution and the businesses often aren’t paying tax in Jersey. Why is it better for Jese if I buy clothes for £100 from a UK multiple in St Helier rather than for £50 from a UK based internet site?
The idea that retail supports the economy is insane. Finance supports the economy, nothing else.
Pip makes the childish point that art galleries etc won’t pay the rent. He may not have noticed that lots of shops are either boarded up or charity run these days. The era of selling products on high streets with high rents is over: services may have a chance.
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Wholly agree with #102 Nigel Pearce. Sure we can buy everything On the WWW world of shopping. After we have been to the local shop and tried the item or asked a few questions. But what happens when it goes wrong, yes Amazon accept returns up to 30 days but if your ‘bought it cheaper’ appliance fails after that you are directed to the manufacturer for repair or replacement, that is worth trying if you want to lose the will to live. Sure things are sometimes more expensive here, ever tried shipping items yourself? No its not cheap and if the item is damaged as they often are it is a nightmare to rectify.
As for the price of food here, the way is to buy cheaper is shop around, farm shops etc in general are cheaper and produce often is fresher and lasts longer. I am a Jerseyman and love this Island and after 65 years I still feel priviledged to live here as difficult at times as it may be.
Well said Nigel.
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A Friend of mine who owns a local bakery was refused permission to start a large scale bakery by the states – he was specifically targetting the loaf prices – reckoning he could put one on the shelves, fresh that day, for just over 50pence per loaf. He was also prevented from obatining a licence to import loaves from France.
CI bakery that produces all non imported bread in JErsey and Guernsey is owned by CIMANDIS – another wonderful corporation liek Sandpiper et al.. that hold the island to ransom.
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Rip offs everywhere – we even get charged by JT for not paying by Direct Debit. Try paying cash, cheque, even internet baking – there’s an extra charge. A charge on PAYING for cryin’ aht lahd!
Most businesses will take your money when you owe them, but JT actually charge you for paying them!!
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Sadly I suspect that we are going to end up with a boarded up high street like most of the UK.
It would be nice to see a plethora of art galleries, nail bars and chic coffee shops filling the gaps but I cannot see that happening.
Out of town and Internet shopping is not going to go away and it will hollow out the high street in the end.
Jersey will end up a dull dormitory town just like the London satellites that litter the home counties.
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My problem, Realsit (84), is that I do look around and it is difficult to seee the hardship you refer to. I am not saying there isn’t, but where you see social housing in need of attention, I see Sky dishes. Where you see a needy child, I see a child wearing a brand new pair of trainers.
My point about pricing is, you may say unfortunately, not an opinion but an economic fact of life. Numerous posts here are from believing that pricing is simply cost plus but it just isn’t – if I were a retailer, running my own business, I would think very hard about how much I could price my goods at to enable me to sell my stock and make as much profit as I possibly could. Those protesting about rip-off Jersey need to ask themselves how they would run their own shop.
Donald (106), re Adrian’s post at 92, are you agreeing that we now buy food online? Are you really? I’ll send you to the Silly Corner, next to Rabbit.
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#108 BreadBasket I heard that story from someone who is also within the industry (possibly the same person I guess). There are a few such stories doing the rounds involving other products and other industries, and I’m not suggesting by using the word ‘stories’ that they are all false, some certainly seem to have merit to them.
I do think there are a handful of companies holding the island to ransom and I don’t think the fact that they offer employment to many people should ever be an excuse to let such behaviour continue, after all the bread needs to come from somewhere and those people will need employees.
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Nigel Pearce
I accept your explanation of why Tesco & Asda might not arrive, but Rosy #101 is absolutely correct. My Mum lives in Southampton, and she can buy Jersey Royals cheaper than I can!
I realise you do your best to defend Jersey’s retail sector, but there is absolutely no defence of that whatsoever
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It is a secret trick from the States to keep the rich and get rid of the less fortunate.
Too expensive: you bugger off.
You can afford it: You re welcome
Why is everything is so expensive in Monaco? It is to scare the low class population away. You are not even allowed in if your car is rubbish…
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#108 BreadBasket
I totally believe your story, because years ago the Morrisons Baker told me ‘We can bake a large loaf for 40p, but THEY won’t let us!’ I always wondered exactly who THEY were.
This island is well and truly stitched up.
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I have know food prices to go up so much in that few months and I mean by 20p and 30p that is disgraceful….
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@108: One slight error. Cimandis is not like Sandpiper: it IS Sandpiper (or at least owned by them). The usual Jersey trick of having complicated company structures to bamboozle the uninitiated works just as well against the consumer as it does against the taxman!
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Pip Clement (100) Jersey may have long term problems on it’s hands.
Pip, Jersey has long term problems on it’s hands. We are just waiting for our political masters to acknowledge the problem and then do something about it.
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‘Ben – what has 4 more years got to do with it?’
Rugby dude… maybe you’re the one kiwi who is not obsessed then?
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(110)I haven’t noticed JT charging extra for paying them, but I will certainly check next time I pay them via Internet Banking!
However, I’ve recently noticed that several online companies, including Amazon, are now charging a ‘hidden’ fee when you pay for items using a debit card. When I checked my available balance on my bank account, I’ve found that a small amount has been withheld from my account, although it is normally returned to the account after 4-5 days! I’ve spoken to my bank about this and they have told me that a lot of internet companies are using this method to check that the payment card is valid!
I am very angry that these companies can legally withhold money from my account for several days without my authorisation and in future I am going to make sure that I only have enough money in the account for the items I’m actually paying for!
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No 120, is he a Kiwi? He never picks up on any of the NZ related posts used to flag it up by the likes of Blair Peach, Craig McDowall, David Kirk et al? Might actually be one of yours. But I take your point as hopefully the ABs will choke again.
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To add my thoughts into the ‘buying online v buying local’ debate, I entered the same debate some time ago, and decided then that, (being the saddo that I am ) I would find the item I wanted/needed online, venture into town to see if a local retailer would sell me at the same price, or even just a few pounds more, and if so I would buy local, if not, I would buy it on line.
To date, approx 9 months worth of shopping later, I have purchased 3 TV’s, camera equipment, clothes, a bicycle, parts for my car, numerous CD’s and DVD’s, a clock, camping equipment, diving computer, a laptop for myself and my son, hard drive, slow cooker, bunk beds and a tennis racket. I have saved almost £3000 by purchasing on line.
I did have a problem with the clock, it was sent back and replaced immediately with no cost to myself. I also have sent back various items of clothing that, once tried on didn’t fit/feel right or we just didn’t like. I have had a full refund and the cost of sending them back pales into insignificance compared to the savings I have made.
I did purchase one thing localy. A blue ray DVD player. There was a fault on it a few months after I bought it so I took it back to the shop. 4 months on, I am still waiting for a replacement.
Mr Pearce. I would dearly like to shop locally and support the local economy, however I simply cannot afford to. The savings I have made this year have paid for a family holiday; the first one in quite a while.
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Ben, when was the last time Aussies had any silverwear in rugby, or cricket for that matter… Ha ha ha
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Sally Ann… It isn’t that I dont’ pick it up, I just ignore the irrelevant comments (though I make an exception in your case just to explain myself).
I don’t follow rugby, couldn’t care less quite frankly, but like all generalisations, there are exceptions.
In noticing Ben being an australian, since he is so fond of making generalisations, one could easily call Ben a rascist since he is an australian – cause we all know australians are very questionable in this regard…
… but it owuld be wrong to make such sweeping generalisations wouldn’t it Ben? regardless of the accuracy…
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RT – now don’t be jealous of NZ’s bigger brother across the Tasman. You seem to be happy to lecture the locals about things, what in your cushy finance job. Sheep farming not your thing then?
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I went into Tesco’s last weekend and saw three green peppers for 85p. In Jersey the same item, locally grown, was £2.95. Why is this?
Two loaves of bread at Tesco’s were £1.20. The same loaf in Jersey £1.20 – 50% more. Why is this?
Why are Jersey Royals selling for half price at Tesco’s?
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Don’t ask anybody in retail for an answer Quennevais Goat, they will be too ashamed to try and give a logical explanation
The prices we get charged is bordering on legalised fraud
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Once a week I go to the Classic Herd shop at St Peter and buy 4×2 ltr, plastic screw top cartons of full fat milk for £8.80, now as there is at least 2inches of yellow cream on each, I suck off the cream with a turkey baster, and get almost 1 ltr of double cream I then whisk this up until it separates into butter and buttermilk. Or use some just as double or whipped cream. This is the sort of stuff our Grandparents remember.
So, I end up with fabulous real organic milk, a block of deep yellow organic butter, and a large bottle of buttermilk for baking with. The milk has still not ‘gone off’ until a couple of days over a whole week later, by which time we have used it up and got the next supply in.
Whilst I’m out that end of the world I plan it to coincide with a petrol refill and collect stamps for that.
And by the way Iceland is the cheapest for 3 peppers, £1.03.
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