Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Pak N Save - dirty little sneaks!

From Scoop:


Pak N Save “Farmers’ Market” campaign under fire



Pak N Save “Farmers’ Market” campaign under fire

The current advertising campaign by Pak N Save, comparing themselves to “a Farmers’ Market, except indoors” is grossly misleading and little more than an attempt to leverage off the good name and continuing growth and success of Authentic Farmers’ Markets.
A Farmers’ Market is a community of independent growers and artisan food producers who meet regularly to sell their food products directly to the public. That food is produced in a defined local region. There are no middle men, no supply contracts, no bulk buying agreements, just independent producers selling their food products at fair prices.

Pak N Save supermarkets do not resemble Farmers’ Markets in any way; they do not sell only food, the people who produce the food do not sell it and the food is not grown or made only in a defined local region.
A complaint has been laid with the Commerce Commission under the fair-trading act in regards to misleading the shopping consumers of New Zealand.
The focus of the Pak N Save, an Australian owned food chain, is “New Zealand’s lowest food prices” whereas the focus of Farmers’ Markets is to provide access for the public to high quality, seasonal, locally produced food, thereby supporting the local economy and social fabric of New Zealand.

Farmers’ Markets New Zealand urges shoppers not to be fooled by this advertising campaign and see for themselves by visiting a Farmers' Market near them."

We have a Farmers' Market here in Riverton, perhaps the country's smallest and probably the only 100% organic farmers market in the land. I feel quite confident in saying that Pak N Save is about as far as you could possibly get from being a farmers' market, as they are claiming to be. The arrogant cheek of the clumsy oafs! Dirty little sneaks!

14 comments:

Shane Pleasance said...

Great advertising for Pak 'n Save, Robert.

robertguyton said...

Get down there Shane! They're a farmers market you know! Fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables and you can meet the growers face-to-face!

Shane Pleasance said...

And open every day!

Shane Pleasance said...

Actually, it is I suppose a good example of how the fears we might have about monopolies might be overcome - the farmers market, I mean.
Good thing they don't sell booze...

robertguyton said...

If you know those behind the tables well enough ...

Ruud V. said...

I have to say, I haven't seen the campaign but the way Robert discribes it it is very misleading...
What was the reason behind their way of thinking calling themself a farmers market I wonder

robertguyton said...

Ruud - the 'way I describe it' is the way 'Farmers' Markets New Zealand', the agency that manages the operations of the farmers' markets found all over the country, describes it.
What is it you find 'misleading'?

Ruud V. said...

Robert, you must got me wrong.
I was not the way you descibed it what was misleading but the way Pak 'n Save was advertising and which you described.

I don't how people fall for it though...every sane person must be able to see the difference the way P&S operates and that of a farmers market.

After a few year of operating I stil haven't found time to visit the farmers market in Gore...I think they are doing all right but must check it out for myself one day.

robertguyton said...

My apologies Ruud - I was too ready to be on the defensive - there's no need for that is there and your meaning was clear.
Farmers' markets aren't the be-all and end-all but they can be valuable. My son used to trade at the Dunedin one, taking down juice from his worm-farm and swapping for seeds from unusual vegetables - that set him on course for the huge collection he has now and taught him that there are alternatives to simply handing over cash for the price asked.

Anonymous said...

I'll be interested to see what the Commerce Commission makes of this.

Shane Pleasance said...

Commerce commission? Pfffttt...
We will see what the IRD make of the lawlessness and untaxed trades flagrantly (fragrantly?) taking place at these so-called 'farmers markets'.

Seeds indeed!
There are komisar wages to be paid.
Perhaps we should send the IRD boys round to pluck from these gardens.
And prima nocte next.

robertguyton said...

Rotten to the core, you Libertarians.
We 'farmers' marketeers' have our own ways of sorting out whistle-blowers like you Mr Place of Restful Enjoyment!

Shane Pleasance said...

We should build ourselves a Hanseatic League

robertguyton said...

I'll begin negotiations with Thornbury and Wallacetown tomorrow.
It's a great suggestion Shane (you're full of those!)