This thread is for discussing the sort of shops that appear to sell food, but you don't go in because you're afraid it will just be huge frozen 5kg bags of everything, and the people there will laugh at you.

Further to my question about the sort of things Farmfoods stock (https://hallofthewendigo.forumotion.com/t404p100-the-i-have-a-question-thread#191644)

I have today received a flyer for the local branch here in Fanford (which I didn't know existed) and they sell the following useful non-frozen things:

Rice (9kg!)
Coffee
Bread - sliced, baps, wraps
Butter - 227g, ersatz 1kg
Cheese - 550g, 1kg
Yogurts
Cooked meat - ham
Spreads - peanut butter 1kg, jam
Veg - potatoes
Fruit - bananas
Sugar
Tinned meat eg bacon grill, spam
Tinned fish - tuna
Pasta (1kg)
Cereals
Soft drinks
Laundry liquid etc
Toilet rolls

It also sells frozen, pre-assembled microwaveable doner kebabs, which I also didn't know existed.

So all this info will be useful to know when I go back to that Glasgow hotel that's in a food desert.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert

While meeting my Paisley pal today, she wished to visit Farmfoods for a loaf of bread, giving me the opportunity to inspect the Farmfoods range close up. They had those big jars of Marmite, which I haven't seen in Tescos since the plague started.

I actually bought something in Iceland today. A bag of ice. For £1.

I noticed they had a basic selection of non-frozen goods - even fresh vegetables, and milk.

Iceland is fabulous. I won't hear a word against it, or their produce. The size of the stores is perfect too - so easy to navigate without becoming overwhelmed.

They are totally palm oil sustainable in order to be friends of the orangutans, they did free deliveries to pensioners during lockdown, their stuff is genuinely good quality (inc the best Stilton of any of the supermarkets - by far), there's naff all wrong with frozen vegetables - it's just sensible (and actually does save money by reducing waste).

I'm just sorry there isn't one near me. I sometimes drive out of my way to visit a branch.

They - and Farmfoods - also have the advantage that they are often found in places where the main chains are not, even the Co-op. Several times now I've stayed in hotels where they were the only food shops within walking distance. (Which is why I started this thread in the first place).

I've never heard of Farm Foods.

It's like a cheaper but not as cheerful Iceland.

I just checked and there are a handful of Farmfoods within the M25 - Walthamstow and Mitcham being two of them. I don't think I've ever been in one, though I know of several in my area of origin. I've been in Heron several times. I think the two might share the same suppliers.

In the 90s Iceland used to do lovely WHITE choc ices.

The last time I went to Heron I didn't like half the stuff, not going there again.

I prefer Lidi to Aldi, but there isn't one near me. There were two Aldi, but one was knocked down to modernise it.



Still a pile of rubble.

Ohhh, controversial. My mother favours Aldi, but I can go with either Aldi or Lidl, which she finds appalling.

Butterfield wrote:

I just checked and there are a handful of Farmfoods within the M25 - Walthamstow and Mitcham being two of them. I don't think I've ever been in one, though I know of several in my area of origin. I've been in Heron several times. I think the two might share the same suppliers.

In the 90s Iceland used to do lovely WHITE choc ices.

Oh, that's the Asda I discreetly visit once in a blue moon, for their often very good discounts on champagne and crisps, and to wonder in awe at all the obese people waddling about in the dessert section. Maybe I'll look into Farmfoods next time I'm over that way.

I was going to throw Jack Fultons Foods into the mix but it turns out they were bought out by Poundland in 2020. And all their branches were closed, for good, earlier this year.

The one in Sheffield was terrible.

The other day, I can't remember where - possibly a corner shop - I saw foods by the 'Jacks' brand that Tesco tried to roll out before scrapping the idea. I never saw a Jacks, and only now have I ever seen Jacks branded goods.

I Jack branded diet Shandy.

I have never even seen a Heron Foods.

I don't recall ever seeing a Farmfoods, although since it would seem there's one in Walthamstow I have almost definitely walked past it.

I almost never go to Iceland, but when I lived nearer Harrow Road (home to Smokers' Junction) I would sometimes nip in a steal some of their carrier bags cos they made good bin bags (large, robust, no holes in the bottom).

There isn't an Iceland near me anymore.

There's probably one further up KHR though.

Ohh, it's more-or-less across the road from Lidl.

It now appears familiar to my eyeball-consciousness.

What about Kwik-Save?

Anyone remember Kwik-Save?