Waitrose Merchandise News
These were weekly publications issed to all branches, giving details of special promotions, price changes, changes in stock assortment, coding and instructions etc.
From the provisions instructions 1969/1970:
English Garden Peas 16oz 2/6, 8oz 1/5, 4oz 11d. As from Monday 15th December, the above pack sizes of “Own Label” peas will be available from your local Smedleys Frozen Foods depot. It is anticipated that Waitrose Peas will quickly becopme brand leader in our stores – you are advised to order courageously.
Eden Vale are advertising a premium offer of six coloured pottery mugs in many womens’ papers during October. This should result in a higher rate of sale for cream. Keep an eye on your stocks.
Salt Ox Tongues – Due to a justifiable customer complain of excessive salting, no further supplies will be purchased from market until the supplier can give some form of guarantee, concerning this product. Branches who have a regular demand for this commodity are advised to order fresh or frozen tongues for salting (for at least 14 days) in their own brine.
Comments about this page
It’s amazing how a single item can spark so many vivid memories, even though it was over 45 years ago- I’m right there doing it ! The Merchandise Information edition on a Friday contained a list of price changes effective from the following Monday. Stock would be run down over Friday and Saturday (no Sunday trading then) and the change process would begin Monday morning. A trolley with the inked rubber tipped price stamps (in h’penny steps) would be brought onto the shop floor along with a bottle of methylated spirits and a cloth. All cans and bottles would have the old price wiped off with the meths and re-priced. Packets and boxes would be left to avoid the risk of contamination, if they had sticky price labels, these would be peeled or scratched off. All stock would be counted and recorded, the warehouse team doing the same thing to the prices on the cases and the amalgamated figures sent to Stock Accounting by Wednesday to be included in any future stock take figures. We had more time at Gloucester Road as Stock Accounting was upstairs. Any pre-packed fresh food would be run down and as many items were packed on site could be priced at the new price, this included Fresh Meat, Bacon, several Cheeses and Cooked Meats. Other fresh food items would be replaced by the new price in rotation. At a later date the instruction changed whereby stock being reduced could be done straight away but increases were not allowed on stock already on the shelf.
Add a comment about this page