Words & Image: Sophia Derby
Shopping at independent businesses is undeniably important for supporting and sustaining our local community. So then, why do so many of us shop exclusively in supermarkets? The answer is pretty simple, because they’re convenient. To find out what this convenience is costing us, I challenged myself to go on a shopping trip in our town’s centre without stepping inside a supermarket.
Not an adventurous cheese lover myself but having a boyfriend who can’t get enough of the stuff, (sadly the smellier the better) I began my shopping trip at the Cheese Factor. I asked a lovely lady behind the counter for a recommendation, she was more than happy to help and suggested her favourite, Blue Stilton. She walked me through the different cheeses from their taste to their texture to help me find the right one as well as recommending her favourite olives to go with them.
As an indecisive shopper, having someone to confer with and get a second opinion from was a great help. I often spend my time deliberating over which option to choose from in supermarkets, so getting advice from a knowledgeable shop assistant made a world of difference. Although there are customer service assistants dotted around supermarkets, (but seemingly never close by when you need one) they’re often teenagers who, let’s be honest, aren’t exactly enthusiastic about the produce on the shelves. Whereas, those working in independent businesses know their products inside out and have a genuine passion for what they’re selling. So, when you ask for a recommendation you know it'll be a good one!
I then headed across to Meadowfresh for some rashers of smoked back bacon and one of their delicious pies. After my bacon was wrapped up, I was presented with the very difficult task of choosing from a selection of tasty looking pies. Learning from my experience at the Cheese Factor, I asked the shop assistant for their favourite filling which turned out to be lamb and mint, which I can now confirm did not disappoint. Maybe because it’s a family run business, I felt comfortable enough to strike up a conversation with the staff as well as other customers around me. It was at this point I began to realise shopping at independent businesses is a great way to socialise with people in the local area. It also began to feel as though this mundane chore was turning into a social outing that I could look forward to rather than just another thing to tick off my to-do list.
Afterall, it’s these small but significant choices that have an impactful and lasting effect on our community.
Walking over to Ibbotson's fruit and veg on the outdoor market, I was pleased to find that the fruit and veg were not pre-packaged and wrapped in plastic. Instead, the fruit and veg were placed in bowls and wooden crates meaning I was able to get exactly how much produce I needed and avoid unnecessary waste. Fancying a pear for my lunch, I was able to buy a single pear without worrying about having to buy a whole packet or without bothering with weighing and printing off a label like at the supermarket.
In fact, I didn’t have to do anything other than read out my shopping list. I handed over my shopping bag to the helpful lady behind the counter and she packed it full of everything I needed from nectarines to a very specific ½ Ib of cherries. Doing the hard work for me, I really appreciated the service I received, and the human interaction made a nice change from serving myself at the self-service checkouts.
Feeling pleased with my purchases so far, I made my way to the Pavements Shopping Centre for a loaf of handmade sourdough bread. I visited the lovely cafe and bakery, Forge Bakehouse, who offer a great selection of homemade breads, pastries and baked goods, choosing a delicious and nutritious seeded sourdough loaf. With lots of us becoming more aware of the negative effects caused by ultra-processed foods on our health, bakeries offering handmade sourdough breads are a great way to avoid those ultra-processed breads often found on supermarket shelves.
I then visited Street Spirit for a few beers for me and my boyfriend to enjoy in the sun. With such a wide variety of colourful craft beer tins and creatively named IPAs, and not a clue what any of it meant, I asked for some well-needed guidance. Without the assistance from the wonderfully helpful lady behind the counter, I would probably have spent an hour just trying to read the different descriptions of each flavour. Asking me questions about my taste preferences, she helped me narrow it down to four different flavours all within my £4-6 price range. The deliciously sweet ‘cake’ flavoured craft beer was a favourite of hers and definitely lived up to expectations.
By shopping at independent businesses, it became apparent that the convenience of the supermarket is costing us the experience of engaging in real human interactions as well as making us overly reliant on and trusting of international brands instead of unbranded locally sourced produce. So, perhaps next time, rather than nipping into a supermarket for a meal deal out of convenience, visit an independent deli and engage in a real human interaction and support our local businesses. After all, it’s these small but significant choices that have an impactful and lasting effect on our community.
For a great list of Chesterfield's Independent businesses visit:
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