This doesn’t mean your local major brand supermarket or the corner shop you pick up milk, bread or beers occasionally. I’m talking about a shop or store which offers something different…something special.

It could be a delicatessen or a food shop specialising in a country or countries cuisine. Maybe it’s a farm shop or farmers market (both being super local!), a butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer or a baker. Anywhere which inspires you, perhaps you find yourself being drawn there just to look around at all the lovely products they have.

People are always discussing in the news the “death of the high street”, blaming the big supermarkets due to their interesting strategy here in the UK of spending years telling us to shop at their slightly-out-of-town megastores to get better value and convenience, then returning to the high street with a “local”, “metro” or other quaint moniker to sell us the same generic products but at a slightly higher price.

This has pushed a lot of traditional shops and stores out of business as more and more restaurants, bars, fast food joints or other non-supermarket competitive business take up the space.

One of the only “bakers” you see on the high street now is a national brand with a big TV advertising budget.

What I really what to know is if the little guy is still making or can still make it big on the high street.

I have seen so many changes in the way we shop here in the UK, but it’s the same the world over. I remember getting of a plane in Bangkok and being a little shocked to see a Tesco store!.

When I was young we used to have fresh milk and other products delivered to the door…by an electric vehicle…in the 70s.  That stopped in the 90s, but now it’s coming back. Maybe only because powerful supermarkets tell you it’s the right thing to do.

TV chefs are always telling us, pop to your local butchers as they will prepare you a particular cut of meat. But who has a local butchers anymore? If you do, and you’re in London, I bet they won’t do pork.

Where are the hard working, passionate local shop owners?

I am lucky enough to have a few local shops I use over supermarkets. In my area of London they tend to be either Indian or Sri Lankan stores. Cheep, fresh and have things which you would never find in even the biggest supermarket.

Tell me about your local shop heroes in the comments below. If you don’t have one feel free to complain about it here too

Michael Robinson

Author information

The Food Curator

The Food Curator (AKA Michael Robinson) is an aficionado of all things food and bon viveur based in London. A passion for cooking and dining has driven him to put fingers to keyboard to bring you his thoughts on the world of food. When not writing, eating or cooking he has a love of American muscle cars. Pop on over to my Facebook page and let's start a Facebook food revolution together: http://tinyurl.com/thefoodcurator

|

The post Is the local shop dead? appeared first on Food on the Blog. Post by The Food Curator