DEAR Jack’s. This is the right, Jack’s, isn’t it? The new, cheap supermarket Jack’s, launched by Tesco last week in its bid to find a space in the market hitherto occupied by Lidl and Aldi?
Anyway, Jack’s, I’m not sure if you’re thinking about bringing your cheery new stores to Scotland, but there are a few things perhaps you might like to consider before you do. The first is your name, which, it’s true, has got a nice ring to it – casual and friendly. It’s easy to imagine people talking about popping into Jack’s as if they were on their way to coffee at their friend's – in the way they already do with Lidl.
But, the problem with calling yourself Jack’s is that here in Scotland, and probably in other parts of the UK too, when we see that name, we think of one thing, the Union Jack. Particularly when we see the flag plastered all over your shops. We think nationalism. We think identity politics. We think what does that 39p broccoli have to do with a "no deal" Brexit next year?
Then we think – what? Wait a second – 39p for a stem of broccoli? When are they bringing Jack’s to Scotland? And can I get away without shopping there without contemplating what, with those low prices, they must be paying the farmer and the staff ?
A lot of people are saying Jack’s is not about British identity or nationalism – your name, they say, is a tribute to Tesco’s founder, Jack Cohen. But it’s hard not to be suspicious when the first few stores you have launched are in Cambridgeshire, a strong Leave-voting county, and Lincolnshire, which recorded the highest Brexit vote in the UK.
I don’t think this is over-sensitivity. We live in an age when everything seems to be about national identity. I can also completely understand why you would lure people in by drawing on their feelings about where Britain is at right now – their anxieties and their hopes.
In insecure times like these, it’s easy to see why even food stores would try to tug on these emotions, as well as our desire just to feed ourselves and get a bargain.
I don’t blame you, Jack’s. The supermarket landscape isn’t what it used to be, and all the big chains are suffering. Where you shop is no longer about your class or mobility aspirations. Lidl and Aldi changed all that.
At some point in the last five years it became fine, however posh you were, to swoon over Lidl and its products. The store became part of who we were in a modern Europe and a globalised, disrupted world. Meanwhile, it’s these two German stores that are predicted to ride out the Brexit process best, and our traditional, British stores that look to be set for a beating.
And Jack’s, I do like some of your buy British ethos. Buying from your own country, whether Scotland or Britain, isn’t a bad thing. Ideally, it should be part of a “buy local” principle at the heart of a food culture. So I like the fact that eight out of 10 of the products you sell will be raised and produced in Britain. But, that doesn’t mean I like your flag-flying image.
It also doesn’t mean I don’t wonder if buying British, in a Scottish Jack’s might mean, as it sometimes does in Tesco, getting apples from hundreds of miles away in Kent or strawberries from Herefordshire.
Cheap food is great – it’s what we need – but only if the British farmers are paid a decent price, the environment is respected and the staff are paid well. And, I very much doubt that is what we’re looking at. Already news has emerged that you, Jack’s, are paying “more of a base rate of pay” to its staff than Tesco.
So, are you, Jack’s, an answer to grocery retail in Brexit Britain? Or food security in these islands? I doubt it – but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t pop in to just to pick up some of your 39p broccoli sometime.
Water carry on in Venice
HOLIDAYS – they’re meant to be where we chill, relax, forget all our troubles, break the rules, and flash our flesh in a way we wouldn’t do back home because someone we know might see us. Well, not if you’re planning on visiting Venice this year. For it seems that the authorities in the city have had enough and are clamping down on “boorish” visitors.
Of course, the rules are probably justified. They’re just another symptom of there being too many of us human beings all going to the same places, trashing them, and letting loose our inner holiday monster.
Here, then, are just a few of the activities that could see you fined on a visit to Venice.
Sitting. Yes, in various places, including St Mark’s Square, sitting could see you fined 200 euros.
Swimming. Not in St Mark’s basin, please, which will get you a fine of 450 euros. You also may not roam Venice’s historic streets or be in any private or public vehicle “while bare-chested or wearing swimwear” – so, in other words, nae taps aff. Bicycling is also not allowed “even when led by hand”. And, certainly, you must not feed the pigeons.
These, then, are the new rules of holidaying, and you’ll probably need to have a sit down after reading them – 200 euros, thank you. In fact, you’re probably fancying a relaxing staycation.
Fine. Only please, please, no stone-stacking – Scottish conservationists are saying it’s wrecking the environment.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here