After a long & detailed discussion with several other UK players on NationStates, we began to debate the wealth implications with where one shops, generally for groceries, on a weekly basis.
Supermarkets, in Britain certainly, have often determined social status, in particular in recent years, as 'posh bashing' has become more and more popular, and as the purchase of groceries online has seen a rapid success in comparison to actually shopping. Supermarkets/shops such as Waitrose, M&S etc, etc are often compared, often in the name of wit, as the supermarket of the upper-middle classes, the more affluent members of society who can afford to drop income on a better quality of food, wine & clothing. Likewise, shops such as Tesco, ASDA, Lidl and so on have been described as the 'average Joe's shop', used by the cold, huddled masses!
In my view, there is a class implication with supermarkets and where you shop. My parents & I buy simple groceries, such as bread, such as milk, such as eggs, meats, cleaning products, vegetables, from Waitrose and M&S, as they are the closest, and best quality, supermarket, preferring to buy more distinguished foods such as some meats, some fruits, wines, clothes from department stores, generally in London. The food in supermarkets such as Tesco, although is evidently quite safe & of a good quality, is, arguably, not as luxury as those in their higher-end counterparts, whilst not offering as wide-of-a-choice in some products.
This is a rather laid-back topic, and I hope it will be treated as such, however I would quite like to see your views on it. Please feel free to share your own personal experiences & views, and discuss perhaps if this is the course of British society. Should we really judge class on supermarket? Do we do it anyway? Is it ethical or good for business? Share your comments below.
