Pretty viola flowers

Aving a chat with Boris and Mary

Putting my point across to Mayor Boris and the lovely Mary MacDonald MP with regards to the Parking issues that surround small business in the capital

Masterchef top bloke

Great to have @mr fennel Tom Whittaker visit us in Chelsea

John quilters army(ish)of food buskers

Dropped off some veg to the one and only ...John Quilter at The Real Food festival on the south bank pop over there this weekend great food all over the gaff

Pauls fruity today

Paul has done wonders with the fruit in Chiswick that includes New Season Spanish Peaches,Nectarines,Alphonso Mango,Nespole,Frais des Bois and plenty of juicy favourites

Darren has done this amazing display in Chiswick

Stunning produce including Giant Globe Artichokes'baby Brittany Artichokes'English Asparagus French White Asparagus,Morels and more

Always wanted to sign for Chelsea

Surely you are "Jo"King

I guess it is quite unbelievable that royalty are more in touch with the normal folk of our fair country than our "top" executives and bankers and last night the guildhall witnessed Justin King the Sainsbury chief exec have his "Ratner moment" following his dismissal of independent retailers and his refusal to take responsibility for The supermarkets roll in high street decline.
I will not throw all my eggs in one basket as I have plenty more to say.
Now we must be careful with Justin who's failure to grasp reality was first seen in his smug interviews post Christmas results where he failed to acknowledge that his "victory"over Tescos was akin to a side celebrating winning the cup after the losers had scored an own goal,and still dosnt recognise that the supermarkets treatment of their customers bears a stark resemblance to children queuing for food in a Dickens novel.
To address Justin kings sentiments I have Spelt out a guide to why the independent sector does not yield the results of planet supermarket.
Dear Justin and the gang
We will close 28,000 greengrocers so you can open your greengrocer counters.
We will willingly hand you 80% of our business as we are not up to it.
We will not become non speccialised and not impart our expertise and sell anything for profit and scratch our heads when asked abquestion..
We have chosen to pay the same tax And P.A.Y.E. levels as big business as we want a level playing field.
In the independent sector we have forsaken our right for customers to park in favour of traffic attendants our friends.
We have chosen to have no voice with councils and government ad opposed to big business that bully's,lobby's and dictates policy.
We have chosen friendly and honest service and pricing as opposed to the deliberate misleading ill-informed supermarket business model.
We will not entice favours from the powers that be.
We will close 9 stores to every one you open.
We will sell costumers what they want not what we want.
We have chosen to make ends meet and struggle on as opposed to drawing huge bonuses and dividends.
We have chosen to pay our suppliers on time to the value of their products as opposed to telling them what we will pay and when/if we will.
We have turned our back on crafty marketing techniques,slight of hand and dam right lies to promote our wares.
We refuse large advertising budgets,focus groups and marketing initiatives for cute signs in our windows.
In short Justin we are entitled to our dreams on our terms and those ofvus who don't make it can gladly hand over their properties to those who have the courage to have a go as opposed to the cosy slimy grease splashed poll you so willingly climbed and let's face all the empties can be tossed to the huge land banks that act as the giant high street bins you hold responsibility for.
Oh and one other thing Justin ...orange and brown are so 80,s get with it

I will be comenting on Tescos work for us for free advertisments very shortly.

2011 a year in veg 2012 the year of veg ?

As twilight descends over the embers of 2011 the final deliveries leave for there destinations and displays readied for (hopefully)one last sales push we must be mindful and ready ourselves for what promises to be at very least an eventful 2012 for us here at veg HQ and indeed the whole independent fresh produce sector,and through the mist and rhetoric I can't help thinking that that both the biggest test and opportunity for retailers lies ahead depending on whether you are half full or half empty the future is largely in our hands and we as independents can really effect and alter our own landscapes by embracing the "now"letting go of the"then" work to our strengths and capitalise on the weaknesses so prevalent in the supermarket model you just never know...we might just See a positive change of fortune for us all and 2012 might just be the year the independent fought back ! happy new year to you all

Andreas

The REAL story(ish) about Supermarket man

Well all things considered it was great to see the brave BBC take on the establishment ... The establishment you say it was only a show about Supermarkets...you heard right ! as since they started there demolition of the high streets and dictation of Government policy they've been a fixture of the establishment with there ruthless pursuit of profit at almost any cost wether it be health encouraging food waste or simply OVERCHARGING which in essence would have had a huge impact on the current financial hardship many families currently have to endure thanks to years of being overcharged and allowed to be fleeced without robust regulations.
Those of you who are more familiar with me will know that this is no bandwagon piece and many points raised in Panoramas show and these amongst other points were raised during my veg surgeries at the people's supermarket(soon to commence again in Chiswick). I am myself no messiah and do not have all the answers and all I can do is price my stock transparently and honestly so the customer knows exactly what they are purchasing and paying for and the supermarkets must do the same with no slight of hand sales technique or use of clever phsycology and confusions... if they don't it's simple ban them from advertising and sponsoring TV shows and as for the fabulous wealth enjoyed by there executives ....that's for another day

Mother natures confusion yields ...

A Fabulous yield of fresh PORCINI ! the first time I recall a 3rd flush and certainly to get such amazing yields is unprecedented ... But we are all delighted

Creating a stir

Having plenty fun with lots of fab people at Masterchef live and creating a bit of a stir

Into the unknown

So here we are first forage into the world of food exhibitions as we "exhibit"at masterchef live which on the face of it seems a crazy idea - small local greengrocer in amongst other large brands like Tefal,Belling and Jaguar however it works there is space for the little man in this arena and could end up being a valuable exercise.
My only real expectation was perhaps to see if we( greengrocers) still had a place in the modern commercial market place and the answer given the response we have had is a yes with a but ...

Fishing for thoughts

While searching for inspiration Andreas perches on a giant pumpkin while using cavollo as a rod ........... (he only needs to nip next door to get fish)

Goodbye to the Peoples Supermarket

Now that the emotion has passed from my farewell to the people supermarket I feel it's really important for me to say how much of a positive and fabulous journey it has been for me and I will always be grateful and humble for the experience and despite Kate's twitter comment that there would be no TPS without me which although nice to hear is not quite the real picture in my eyes ......I think the real Heroes are the Nelsons,Tasha's ,Nigel's,Toms,Actars and Mo who have really created such a fabulous story