Forum Topic

Holly Hodges · 6/3/2005 6:29:00 PM

new.BrentfordTW8.com Communtity Forum Topic posting

Somerfield's low standards - suggest an alternative?

I'm new here so I don't want to get up anyone's nose, but has anyone else had a bad experience with food from Somerfield? I avoid shopping there when I can, but there are few options without a car. Does anyone order online? I'd like to give it a go but I've heard that it can be a bit hit-or-miss.

Holly Hodges ● 7290d34 Comments

"""Just to clarify Jim, I did complain - twice - on the Somerfield site and have had no reply whatsoever. I went into the shop to complain directly to the manager about the mouldy yogurt and he suggested I shop elsewhere"""Holly. What a terrible response you have had...and for the Manager to suggest that you go elsewhere must be the "Quote of the Year"! Lets hope the local newspapers get hold of the story. Give them a phone call. Sally Henfield for starters! Then the Summerfields HQ will take note.

Jim Lawes ● 7166d

Just to clarify Jim, I did complain - twice - on the Somerfield site and have had no reply whatsoever. I went into the shop to complain directly to the manager about the mouldy yogurt and he suggested I shop elsewhere.

Holly Hodges ● 7166d

Thanks Keith, I'll check it out.

Peter McGovern ● 7195d

Peter, don't know if you are aware of the fishmonger located in the indoor market next to the park in West Ealing.

Keith Iddon ● 7195d

HollyYou should get the 65 bus to South Ealing or better still cycle. There are 2 butchers, a bakers, greengrocers and a Co-op. Just wish there was a fishmongers. Although there is a guy in a van from Grimsby but I'm never sure what day.Also 2 litres of milk is cheaper in my local off-licence than in Tesco.

Peter McGovern ● 7195d

These horror stories of eggs, yoghurt and peanuts make one cringe but couldn't it be that these are one-in-a-million phenomena which get reported? I buy regularly each week from a village food store which is probably among if not the best quality village store in UK and in the last 3 months I've had 2 apples and 2 oranges which were bad inside with no marks on the skin. While the bananas I buy from the store are always excellent I notice that bananas from 2 major supermarkets I use are very often heavily bruised or discoloured inside the skin. Similarly oranges in summer months are generally dry (old?) from stores throughout the country but not from my village store. Perhaps it's supply that's the problem or that we Brits don't complain enough or maybe we want food too cheap.All this reminds me of around 10 years ago when in Singapore. The Straits Times had a full front page on the letter to them from an Englishman who reported the response of a major supermarket chain that it was normal practice to shut off the refrigeration/ electricity for food isplays when their stores closed at night .

Michael Fletcher ● 7195d

HollyDon't feel you're being awkward..return it to them and hopefully get a good response.It might be an idea to send an e-mail to Somerfields Customer Services "FEEDBACK" section which can be accessed via the following webpage.http://www.somerfield.co.uk/site/contact/index.aspGood luck..and let's hear how you get on.PS: I had to complain to Waitrose,West Ealing very recently as I had found maggots/grubs in some peanuts I was eating!!I was able to phone Waitrose Customer Service at their Head Office(a Forum reader had provided the phone nunber)..and when I returned the live maggots and debris to West Ealing they were already expecting me..and they dealt with the matter in the proper way. I will continue to shop at Waitrose,West Ealing!

Jim Lawes ● 7195d

Okay, before anyone tells me to stop shopping at Somerfield or stop complaining, I hadn't been there in months and only went along because my elderly neighbour needed some things.Bought myself a few pots of yogurt, one of which is a good two weeks within its sell-by and is mouldy.I have never received a response to the complaint I submitted to the Somerfield website about the rotten egg, which I think is rude under ordinary circumstances but, considering the complaint, I think it is quite shocking.I'm going in today to return the yogurt and complain to the manager. I'll also submit a second complaint and refer them to this site.I know it may sound as if I'm turning into an old fogey or I have too much time on my hands, but the least I feel I can expect of a food shop is that the food will not be rancid or mouldy. If this is what I am actually noticing, what about the stuff that is eaten without detecting that there is something wrong with it until it is too late?

Holly Hodges ● 7196d

Holly:Are you able to catch a bus and go to Waitrose at West Ealing Station? That's up Northfields Road from Brentford.Repeating part of my message posted on 5/6/05 at 01.36.00""A Times Magazine survey about the quality of eggs sold in the High Street rated the WAITROSE ORGANIC COLUMBIAN BLACKTAIL FREE RANGE EGGS the best by far!! (3 stars)..but even that was described as "the best of an uninspiring bunch"Tesco (Organic large free range)got Nil points."these are destined to be sliced in a machine for a motorway sandwich!!,Corngold 1,Sainsburys 1, but cheap,Somerfields 1..and described as "did not even smell even remotely eggy" and was considered "just plain boring!",To complete a top breakfast fry-up..I get bacon from Marks and Spencer (british smoked bacon rashers)..and their Lincolnshire sausages (not boring Cumberland)..and tomatoes from the Osterley Farmshop....and HP sauce..sadly now owned by Heinz.You want bread too? Well, Granary is best for diabetics like me ..as it is slower to digest. I only go to Sainsburys for their "Taste the Difference" large rolled oats (Porridge!).And finally tea.. I prefer the South African organic from M&S but its not always available.Somerfields..pass?Columbus Healthier eggs 1 "why buy these if they taste this bland"!!,Waitrose..as descibed above ..3 points.The West Ealing Waitrose is great..for most things..and its arrival in Brentford would be a real tonic. Waitrose are an honest company.

Jim Lawes ● 7265d

Hello...we live in Isleworth and do a lot of our food shopping at the St John's Superstore in St Johns Road. It's independently owned and does a very good range of stuff. There's a new branch down by the river (over the road from Popadums)in Brentford that might be worth a try.

Julian Joyce ● 7265d

...funny that, Keith, you are right. When we were kiddies and they weren't injecting the animals with goodness knows what (gosh we are old, aren’t we!) , the odd double yolker was a treat - but having so many in one box ... and the thought, as to why, that, might, happen ... well, get my drift? Grim, grim, grim.

Sarah Felstead ● 7266d

If ever you're on North End Rd. in Fulham, there is a stall there on the street market that sells nothing but eggs(including Duck eggs and Quail eggs).

Keith Iddon ● 7266d

Always though a double yolk was a result,if you know what I mean.....

Keith Iddon ● 7266d

Look guys and gals. Twickers managed to get their Somerfield changed to Waitrose some years ago. Maybe you could do the same?

Paul Davis ● 7266d

I heard some ladies in Chiswick Sainsbury’s saying how easy it was to get there through Brentford on the bus ... mind you having read some of the comments on the W4 forum about Sainsbury’s ... !Some of the own label produce in Tesco is a bit yucky. I try not to buy eggs as much these days because they often don't appear very fresh. We had a whole dozen in one box of double yolkers, from Tesco - which was no yolk, I can tell you; made us all feel quite ill! :-(

Sarah Felstead ● 7266d

Yes indeed, in a box of organic eggs from Somerfield (a week before the sell-by) a truly rotten, rancid, green, foul (no pun intended) egg amongst the not very fresh others. Am I alone in thinking this is really shocking and disgusting?Even when we kept chickens when I was a child and sometimes an egg would be overlooked and brought in when it was old, even in my years of buying eggs from corner shops and unregulated market stalls, etc, I have NEVER had a rotten egg in my life.If it had come from anywhere else I would be angry but I would chalk it up to bad luck. From Somerfield, it stands as another example of their consistently low standards of hygiene and quality control. I've sent a complaint via the website. In future when I can't get to a good supermarket I'll go to Costcutter instead - I've had enough!BTW, had some very fresh, delicious free range eggs from Tesco. I prefer organic, but this was the small Tesco in Chiswick and they didn't sell them.

Holly Hodges ● 7266d

Nick, wouldn't you prefer to see a real butcher opening up on the high st. and a proper baker rather than that pathetic excuse for a baker Greggs?

Keith Iddon ● 7285d

Please please tell me its true!!??

Nick Jenkins ● 7285d

Yes Holly, I too have my doubts when 'free-range'eggs taste no better than battery hen eggs. I've been getting my eggs there for years and they are consistently good.I have eaten eggs from battery hens bought at the supermarket just to see if there is a difference, and believe me there is.Most free range eggs I have bought have not been as good as these. The other place you can get good eggs is at the urban farm on Armidale rd.near the airport. These are barn reared also and are good,though they don't have that many chickens so supplies are variable.

Keith Iddon ● 7285d

Gerry, on the Ealing Forum, plans having having a chicken run in his back garden!

Jim Lawes ● 7286d

I have my doubts about the 'barn reared' phrase - I suspect they're just battery eggs under a nicer name. Oh, life gets complicated trying to make sure everyone gets a good deal - I'd like to know that the chicken, the farmer and the consumer can all come away happy! Call me a bleeding heart...I got my eggs from the potato and egg stall at the Brentford farmers market and they're pretty poor. It's swings and roundabouts, eh? I want to support the smaller producers, but then the quality control is not as predictable - and I hate to hear that they are having problems with expensive machinery which compromises their ability to make a living.I do like Waitrose, but it's a long way to go when the return route is by bus with heavy shopping. I'm pleased to hear that their eggs got a bit of a thumbs up - those are the ones I get (organic).

Holly Hodges ● 7286d

Best local eggs are from Pearce's butcher,South Ealing in my humble opinion.They are from barn reared chickens apparently and are delicious.

Keith Iddon ● 7289d

On the 30th May I posted a message on the Ealing Forum..as there was a discussion about keeping chicken in someones back gardens.Its repeated herewith.""At the Farmers Markets? sometimes they can be disappointing (old). I understand that according to new EU regulations eggs should be ink stamped with the code of producer and date laid.The Osterley Farm couldn't afford the cost of the stamping machine ..nor the handwork time involved...so they now "import" their eggs from another local Farm.A Times Magazine survey about the quality of eggs sold in the High Street rated the WAITROSE ORGANIC COLUMBIAN BLACKTAIL FREE RANGE EGGS the best by far!! (3 stars)..but even that was described as "the best of an uninspiring bunch"Tesco got Nil points."these are destined to be sliced in a machine for a motorway sandwich!!,Corngold 1,Sainsburys 1, but cheap,Somerfields 1..and described as "just plain boring!",Columbus Healthier eggs 1 "why buy these if they taste this bland"!!,Waitrose..as descibed above ..3 points.The West Ealing Waitrose is great..for most things..and its arrival in Brentford would be a real tonic. Waitrose are an honest company. They pay good and honest prices to Farmers etc for milk and produce (unlike Tesco and Sainsbury's)..they sell proper and honest meat too.For example I was told by the butcher today..that Aberdeen Augus beef may be from that breed..the animal born in Uk..then it gets shipped to Austalia for grazing..and then back on your counters..cheap cheap. Whilst waitrose keep "their" cattle in the UK! ...amazing behind the scenes stories one hears

Jim Lawes ● 7289d

Hi Holly; I heard that too..we'll probably wait a long time; although many are in favour of the development particularly harrassed mums and others too busy to go shopping on buses farther afield living in Brentford without cars, sick of travelling on buses with lots of shopping and I thought it got the go ahead, there were other appealing aspects like being able to see the river from the high street and nicer walkways than some of the more precarious ones by the river..many people were also against the development partly because it includes a cinema, and also some of the garages used as workshops behind the high st would be pulled downand maybe there have been more delays for other reasons. Maybe there's another thread about this elsewhere... the debte got very heated a few years backI can see both sides, but would really like the development and I think the south side of the high st is particularly grotty.Sorry to hear about your eggs, I normally get mine from the man selling potatoes and eggs near to the entrance on the right as you go in and they've always been lovely.

Helen Martin ● 7289d

There's a rumour going around that the new supermarket is going to be a Waitrose - yay! Although who knows how long we'll wait...Bought some eggs from the FM this morning and they aren't fresh. Disappointed. I'll try a different stallholder next time.

Holly Hodges ● 7289d

I don't have a car either, don't like Somerfields apart from the cheese counter and the wine selection, which are good and have a family of four to feed so I shop online with Ocado, which delivers Waitrose stuff, very good and worth any extra pennies...-actually when I compare my bills with friends' grocery bills from other stores, I am paying less!-I've tried all the online supermarkets, and Ocado is definitely the best. Personally, I'm looking forward to the eventual redevelopment of part of the south side of Brentford High St, when we are promised another Supermarket, a proper one, not like Cost'cutter' to hopefully be proper competition with Somerfields and give Brentford residents a decent food shop! Hope that hlps...also from now will probably buy veg and eggs from the Farmers Market

Helen Martin ● 7289d

Ugh, no car! That's the main problem and Somerfield is virtually around the corner.The bad experience was actually experiences: rancid chicken, grotty veg (where do they get such old, rubbery produce?), at least three 'own brand' products which went straight in the bin after one bite and today, ice cream that has undoubtedly been thawed and refrozen more than once - this is over a period of two or three years of shopping there.I'll look for you on Saturday, Matt!

Holly Hodges ● 7290d

Holly: Welcome to the Forum.Within in walking distance in Brentford..I believe that a new smaller supermarket has opened up on the High Street near the Brentford Bridge /Canal.If you are thinking of major shopping trips..then I'd recommend Tescos at Osterley..on the H28 route, Waitrose at West Ealing station, Marks and Spencers at the Kew Shopping Park..Mortlake Road.If you have a car, later at night ..open till 10pm..I prefer to go to the M&S express store in the centre of Twickenham..or the Sainsburys..linked to a petrol Station..close to South Ealing station..65 bus. ok?

Jim Lawes ● 7290d

Holly,what type of 'bad experience' did you have?

Keith Iddon ● 7290d

Fair comment. Papa's Pizza is pretty good (8582 8384) but that's probabnly not what you meant. Anyways, I'll be the one in the shiny yellow jacket on Saturday if anyone wants to come over and say hi, talk about the market, this site (I moonlight as Editor) or the price of fish...

Matt Harmer ● 7290d

Yes and I can't wait to go tomorrow! But the trickiest thing for me is when it's late and I'm tired and I have nothing in the house for dinner. Then it's my only option. I need to be more organised, obviously!

Holly Hodges ● 7290d

Well, there's a pretty good Farmers' Market every Saturday morning opposite the station...

Matt Harmer ● 7290d