Grocery prices - UK vs Australia from our recent reccie

[paul1977]

Hit the nail on the head Paul. I live in Melbourne and it's like living in rural 1980's uk:arghh: My teenage daughter is depressed the shops have limmited choice and VERY expensive.

My god if you think melbounes shops are limited never ever come here, I couldn't believe how much choice you had when I was there in comparison to WA

[dxboz]

I think Melbourne cbd shops are great. Lots of small Melbourne trendy designer shops - not all the same big store names

[Guest guest74886]

The only time banana prices changed dramatically here was due to a cyclone which destroyed about 90% of the crop.

 

Yes, and most other countries faced with the same circumstance import to make up the shortfall, but not Australia, that would be bringing some quality control and competition into the market and we might find out that we are all being ripped off by a bunch of featherbedded banana benders

[northernbird]

E

No good for me mate, that's 50k away. The point is they close to early during the week putting pressure on your weekends, yes I'm sure you get the odd metro express store open but again it 35 km away. WA need to step up and realise people work more hours than ever so we need things open later. Was in Melbourne 6 weeks ago and most things were open up till 9 which was good.

 

Lakeside and Whitfords have the big supermarkets/major retailers open until 9 during the week as does the Woolworths at Currambine.

[Guest]

Yes, and most other countries faced with the same circumstance import to make up the shortfall, but not Australia, that would be bringing some quality control and competition into the market and we might find out that we are all being ripped off by a bunch of featherbedded banana benders

 

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-by-agricultural-imports.html

 

Is it a coincidence that the countries that import the most food are also the countries most impacted by the GFC? 12% of the GDP comes from Agriculture, in the UK it's 0.7% and continues to fall.

 

Aside from that a lot of food in UK supermarkets is sold at cost or even a loss, the profit is made on the other things people pick up whilst they are there or over-processed and over-priced convenience food (that is far less evident in Australian supermarkets)

 

Whatever you think of Australia you cannot possibly believe the economy in the UK (or France) is better?

 

From my many trips to France I had assumed it was much more like Australia in terms of shopping and cooking? Markets, independent fromagerie, patisserie, boulangerie, charcuterie etc. or is that just the 'tourist' France?

[Peach]

I do buy milk in the supermarket but I will never buy own brand milk and I am happy to pay more to keep milk production a local industry.

 

This is worth a watch ::

Edited April 28, 2013 by Peach

[paul1977]

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-by-agricultural-imports.html

 

Is it a coincidence that the countries that import the most food are also the countries most impacted by the GFC? 12% of the GDP comes from Agriculture, in the UK it's 0.7% and continues to fall.

 

Aside from that a lot of food in UK supermarkets is sold at cost or even a loss, the profit is made on the other things people pick up whilst they are there or over-processed and over-priced convenience food (that is far less evident in Australian supermarkets)

 

Whatever you think of Australia you cannot possibly believe the economy in the UK (or France) is better?

 

From my many trips to France I had assumed it was much more like Australia in terms of shopping and cooking? Markets, independent fromagerie, patisserie, boulangerie, charcuterie etc. or is that just the 'tourist' France?

Yes jules, and don't we pay a very very high price for it

[rosiew]

But they grow bananas elsewhere in Oz.....?! We have to import them from much further here and they are nowhere near that much. The wages may be higher in Perth but surely being ripped off is still unacceptable? You earn more...you pay more tax and higher prices...who's winning there then?

 

Yes, but the people growing your bananas are not being paid very well to do it.......

[paul1977]

Yes, but the people growing your bananas are not being paid very well to do it.......

And the working holiday visa people are...?

[Guest]

This is worth a watch ::

 

Definitely interesting, I think my conscience is clear though as I buy Brownes milk, which although is not mentioned in the video, is I believe a farmers collective (will be double checking though!)

[Harpodom]

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-by-agricultural-imports.html

 

Is it a coincidence that the countries that import the most food are also the countries most impacted by the GFC? 12% of the GDP comes from Agriculture, in the UK it's 0.7% and continues to fall.

 

Aside from that a lot of food in UK supermarkets is sold at cost or even a loss, the profit is made on the other things people pick up whilst they are there or over-processed and over-priced convenience food (that is far less evident in Australian supermarkets)

 

Whatever you think of Australia you cannot possibly believe the economy in the UK (or France) is better?

 

From my many trips to France I had assumed it was much more like Australia in terms of shopping and cooking? Markets, independent fromagerie, patisserie, boulangerie, charcuterie etc. or is that just the 'tourist' France?

Are you seriously saying that Aus avoided recession because of farming? Nothing to do with mining then?

 

Your comments about France aren't that accurate, their supermarkets are incredible: they make Tescos look like Kwiksave, or even Coles. The supermarkets in France are so good that they are putting smaller retailers out of business and a lot of small villages and towns are now lacking a lot of the shops you mentioned.

 

Its a hard balance between keeping consumers happy and having independent retailers that are financially viable. It could be argued that the time for smaller independent retailers is finished, unless they have a significant internet presence. Lets face it, Aus retailers are clinging on by their fingernails. The days of 9-5 shops with overpriced goods and limited choice are very much numbered.

[Guest chris955]

The prices here are in the $2 - $3.50 range throughout the year - depending on the time in the growing season. I wouldn't call that roller coaster prices.

 

As I said I lived in Brisbane and the prices fluctuated wildly even though the bananas were grown 'locally'.

[Guest]

Are you seriously saying that Aus avoided recession because of farming? Nothing to do with mining then?

 

Your comments about France aren't that accurate, their supermarkets are incredible: they make Tescos look like Kwiksave, or even Coles. The supermarkets in France are so good that they are putting smaller retailers out of business and a lot of small villages and towns are now lacking a lot of the shops you mentioned.

 

Its a hard balance between keeping consumers happy and having independent retailers that are financially viable. It could be argued that the time for smaller independent retailers is finished, unless they have a significant internet presence. Lets face it, Aus retailers are clinging on by their fingernails. The days of 9-5 shops with overpriced goods and limited choice are very much numbered.

 

No, not saying that at all, but there is a different mentality to imports here which does have a very positive impact on the economy. Agricultural products is just part of the picture, even if the natural resources are a bigger part.

 

i am entirely familiar with Mammoth, Carrefour and the likes but during the time I was traveling in France regularly (obviously not the last 5 years!) these seemed to exist comfortably side by side but as I said I was only ever their as a tourist, so was probably being ripped off buying over-priced bread and cheese from an 'authentic' store (that the owner had bought from the hypermarket!)

 

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next decade, I expect to be living that out in the UK and as the country recovers from recession I am not convinced it is the big retailers that will win out. If anything I believe there will be an increase in small retailers providing good service and quality products. Maybe I'm just dreaming of how I'd like it to be

[Harpodom]

No, not saying that at all, but there is a different mentality to imports here which does have a very positive impact on the economy. Agricultural products is just part of the picture, even if the natural resources are a bigger part.

 

i am entirely familiar with Mammoth, Carrefour and the likes but during the time I was traveling in France regularly (obviously not the last 5 years!) these seemed to exist comfortably side by side but as I said I was only ever their as a tourist, so was probably being ripped off buying over-priced bread and cheese from an 'authentic' store (that the owner had bought from the hypermarket!)

 

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next decade, I expect to be living that out in the UK and as the country recovers from recession I am not convinced it is the big retailers that will win out. If anything I believe there will be an increase in small retailers providing good service and quality products. Maybe I'm just dreaming of how I'd like it to be

There is definitely a place in the new world order for smaller retailers, BUT they need to have a niche market or specialise in stuff that cannot be found elsewhere for miles. That and having an internet presence helps.

[Guest guest76088]

A question: is it legal in Australia for a company to bypass official distributor and import branded goods from elsewhere in the world?

 

In certain countries this is prohibited without the permission of the the brand owner: giving the official distributor complete control over supply and pricing.

 

This results in sustained high prices.

​

BigD

[flag of convenience]

My god if you think melbounes shops are limited never ever come here, I couldn't believe how much choice you had when I was there in comparison to WA

 

Fully agree the shops over Melbourne way is like entering a wonderland. At least in overpriced,poor quality Perth it is kinda easier to keep hold of the shekels as limited in things to spend on.

[flag of convenience]

Yes jules, and don't we pay a very very high price for it

 

Nor are those doing the real graft the pickers.

[Guest guest74886]

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-by-agricultural-imports.html

 

Is it a coincidence that the countries that import the most food are also the countries most impacted by the GFC? 12% of the GDP comes from Agriculture, in the UK it's 0.7% and continues to fall.

 

Aside from that a lot of food in UK supermarkets is sold at cost or even a loss, the profit is made on the other things people pick up whilst they are there or over-processed and over-priced convenience food (that is far less evident in Australian supermarkets)

 

Whatever you think of Australia you cannot possibly believe the economy in the UK (or France) is better?

 

From my many trips to France I had assumed it was much more like Australia in terms of shopping and cooking? Markets, independent fromagerie, patisserie, boulangerie, charcuterie etc. or is that just the 'tourist' France?

 

I must be living in the wrong bit of Australia, I always knew there was something wrong, you must tell me about all these secret Framageries, Boulangeries, Patisseries, charcuteries with their cornucopia hidden away down some secret alley in my Westfield shopping center, do you need a password to get into it?

[Guest guest74886]

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-by-agricultural-imports.html

 

Is it a coincidence that the countries that import the most food are also the countries most impacted by the GFC? 12% of the GDP comes from Agriculture, in the UK it's 0.7% and continues to fall.

 

Aside from that a lot of food in UK supermarkets is sold at cost or even a loss, the profit is made on the other things people pick up whilst they are there or over-processed and over-priced convenience food (that is far less evident in Australian supermarkets)

 

Whatever you think of Australia you cannot possibly believe the economy in the UK (or France) is better?

 

From my many trips to France I had assumed it was much more like Australia in terms of shopping and cooking? Markets, independent fromagerie, patisserie, boulangerie, charcuterie etc. or is that just the 'tourist' France?

 

It's not just about the economy here it's about how the resources available to the State are utilised and for whose benefit and the regulatory regimes here and the protections that are given to citizens by them.

The economy is better here without a doubt but money is wasted like it's going out of fashion by the various levels of Government here and the citizen gets a raw deal from it whilst being told how marvelous it is and is so conditioned to having poor services that they don't even notice it and are also fobbed off with fairy stories by big business which is never challenged by the Govt because it suits the Govt's purpose never to have a critical eye cast over anything.

[Skani]

And the working holiday visa people are...?

 

The working holiday visa people ARE being paid a darn lot more to pick bananas than the people picking your bananas in the UK.

$20 per hour was the rate a friend of ours was paid a year or so ago in Australia, more on the weekend (around $40 per hour on Sundays).

Compare that to the $2 a DAY paid in the central American countries producing bananas for the UK.

​

Have you ever wondered why there is such a thing as Fair Trade bananas in the UK - and not in Australia?

Because your basic UK banana is being sold to you cheaply off the slavery and poverty of people for whom you care not one iota.

[Skani]

Definitely interesting, I think my conscience is clear though as I buy Brownes milk, which although is not mentioned in the video, is I believe a farmers collective (will be double checking though!)

 

Yes, same here...because I buy milk from local producers who are not owned by any of the big boy dairy companies.

[Guest chris955]

Can I assume you dont buy anything made in China or any other low wage economy ?

 

The working holiday visa people ARE being paid a darn lot more to pick bananas than the people picking your bananas in the UK.

$20 per hour was the rate a friend of ours was paid a year or so ago in Australia, more on the weekend (around $40 per hour on Sundays).

Compare that to the $2 a DAY paid in the central American countries producing bananas for the UK.

​

Have you ever wondered why there is such a thing as Fair Trade bananas in the UK - and not in Australia?

Because your basic UK banana is being sold to you cheaply off the slavery and poverty of people for whom you care not one iota.

[Mongrel]

Definitely interesting, I think my conscience is clear though as I buy Brownes milk, which although is not mentioned in the video, is I believe a farmers collective (will be double checking though!)

 

Brownes is Australian owned by a private equity company

[Skani]

Yes jules, and don't we pay a very very high price for it

 

NO - bottled water per litre costs more than a litre of milk....and the water bottlers sure don't have the workload or expenses of dairy farmers.

 

The reason you think you pay more for milk here is because EU farmers are subsidised and Australian farmers are not.

Therefore your taxes have already paid for part of that carton of milk in the UK before you fork out more at the checkout.

[Skani]

I must be living in the wrong bit of Australia, I always knew there was something wrong, you must tell me about all these secret Framageries, Boulangeries, Patisseries, charcuteries with their cornucopia hidden away down some secret alley in my Westfield shopping center, do you need a password to get into it?

 

There are plenty of these in Melbourne. Even Hobart can produce quite a few. I don't know why Brisbane can't. Maybe cooler climates encourage more interest in these types of food?