Comments on: Is It Just a Matter of Time? http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/ Kieran Murphy's blog - all about making, eating, pondering about and enjoying sweet things by a chocoholic Irish ice cream man (Murphys Ice Cream) living in Dingle, Ireland. (Please ask if you wish to use text or images. Copyright (c) Kieran Murphy 2007) Fri, 17 May 2013 11:45:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Susan http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-43025 Susan Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:46:07 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-43025 We are just back from a wonderful time in Ireland - including 3 days in Dingle - wish we could have managed just one more week to take in the Food Festival! For us, there has never been any place like Ireland and no place the equal of Dingle and the Penninsula. This visit, though, we were shocked to see that yellow and white Subway sign. It was so weird to walk past and smell that characteristic, exactly same aroma that drifts out of every Subway we've ever passed at home. Not that Subway in itself is "bad", but it is all about "same" and "same" has never defined Dingle. Here in the US, we have learned the hard way that once big corporate sameness muscles into a community, it is very hard to turn the tide and it is a loss to us all, from the producers to the consumers, when food looks, smells, and tastes the same no matter where you go. Hope the communities of Ireland can stay strong and retain their individuality and personality - especially in these tough times. We are just back from a wonderful time in Ireland – including 3 days in Dingle – wish we could have managed just one more week to take in the Food Festival! For us, there has never been any place like Ireland and no place the equal of Dingle and the Penninsula. This visit, though, we were shocked to see that yellow and white Subway sign. It was so weird to walk past and smell that characteristic, exactly same aroma that drifts out of every Subway we’ve ever passed at home. Not that Subway in itself is “bad”, but it is all about “same” and “same” has never defined Dingle. Here in the US, we have learned the hard way that once big corporate sameness muscles into a community, it is very hard to turn the tide and it is a loss to us all, from the producers to the consumers, when food looks, smells, and tastes the same no matter where you go. Hope the communities of Ireland can stay strong and retain their individuality and personality – especially in these tough times.

]]> By: Kitchen Goddess http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-42775 Kitchen Goddess Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:01:19 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-42775 I hate the feeling that we're being overrun by big businesses, I'm all for supporting local ... to the extent that I haven't 'big chain' or supermarket shopped for over a month now, all local shops and an organic veg box for us, plus I'm home baking nearly everything I can now. I hate the feeling that we’re being overrun by big businesses, I’m all for supporting local … to the extent that I haven’t ‘big chain’ or supermarket shopped for over a month now, all local shops and an organic veg box for us, plus I’m home baking nearly everything I can now.

]]> By: Monika http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-42091 Monika Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:49:26 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-42091 We try to do our bits and support our local producers. Local markets, local farmers. And to borrow from Eugene, we hate the "boring sameness". I prefer knowing my butcher's name, and have a chat with the farmer who grows my vegs and allow me to taste the tomatoes... We try to do our bits and support our local producers. Local markets, local farmers. And to borrow from Eugene, we hate the “boring sameness”. I prefer knowing my butcher’s name, and have a chat with the farmer who grows my vegs and allow me to taste the tomatoes…

]]> By: Lorna http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-42048 Lorna Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:48:09 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-42048 I totally agree. Someone was commenting recently how how they wished Lidl or Aldi would come to our nearest small town, Castlecomer. I think it would be a travesty. I much prefer when small towns in particular have their own 'individual' shops. It's incredible how the number of supermarkets are increasing so much in the bigger towns. 6 years ago, Carlow had an Aldi, Superquinn, Tescos and Supervalu now it has 2 Aldis, Lidl, Superquinn, New bigger Tescos, Dunnes and a new and bigger Supervalu is opening. I totally agree. Someone was commenting recently how how they wished Lidl or Aldi would come to our nearest small town, Castlecomer. I think it would be a travesty. I much prefer when small towns in particular have their own ‘individual’ shops. It’s incredible how the number of supermarkets are increasing so much in the bigger towns. 6 years ago, Carlow had an Aldi, Superquinn, Tescos and Supervalu now it has 2 Aldis, Lidl, Superquinn, New bigger Tescos, Dunnes and a new and bigger Supervalu is opening.

]]> By: Eugene http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-41925 Eugene Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:32:54 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-41925 Planning policy allows these chains to open. Many european towns and cities regulate who and what goes where - the powers that be could easily refuse permission to chain stores and retain independent food shops. Of course, the funny thing is that it is allowed in the name of 'competition' which we are told reduces price and improves choice but only results in this boring sameness everywhere we go! And in many cases your local greengrocer and butcher are cheaper! Planning policy allows these chains to open. Many european towns and cities regulate who and what goes where – the powers that be could easily refuse permission to chain stores and retain independent food shops.
Of course, the funny thing is that it is allowed in the name of ‘competition’ which we are told reduces price and improves choice but only results in this boring sameness everywhere we go! And in many cases your local greengrocer and butcher are cheaper!

]]> By: Chocolate Heaven http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-41923 Chocolate Heaven Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:47:34 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-41923 Interesting - I think most towns are going the way of the larger chains.. and to be honest, as a consumer, I do tend to shop in them myself. Its timesaving to have everything in the one shop when you are in a hurry and just want to get home! And more often than not, they can afford to make the prices more competitive. On the other hand - I do think that there IS a market for the smaller independent shops. Especially ones that specialise in somthing that you cant get anywhere else - OR a shop that sells a product that you dont just grab off the shelf, but appreciate some individual attention and salesperson's expertise. It will be interesting to see what happens - hopefully those of us who run these "niche" shops will still be here in years to come! Interesting – I think most towns are going the way of the larger chains.. and to be honest, as a consumer, I do tend to shop in them myself.
Its timesaving to have everything in the one shop when you are in a hurry and just want to get home! And more often than not, they can afford to make the prices more competitive.
On the other hand – I do think that there IS a market for the smaller independent shops. Especially ones that specialise in somthing that you cant get anywhere else – OR a shop that sells a product that you dont just grab off the shelf, but appreciate some individual attention and salesperson’s expertise.
It will be interesting to see what happens – hopefully those of us who run these “niche” shops will still be here in years to come!

]]> By: Conor O'Neill http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-41893 Conor O'Neill Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:57:21 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-41893 I'm not so sure it's as bad as you think. The two butchers in Bandon still thrive despite the arrival of both SuperValu and Lidl. The reason being that they focus on quality and not price. The perfect example of that was a recent Saturday where I ran into a friend at Lidl who was complementing their organic produce (unfortunately mainly German so lots of food miles) but still gets his meat in the butchers. Anyone involved in a commodity business will eventually be killed by bigger companies with better economies of scale. The trick is not to be a commodity. Murphy's Ice Cream is the perfect example of that. I’m not so sure it’s as bad as you think. The two butchers in Bandon still thrive despite the arrival of both SuperValu and Lidl. The reason being that they focus on quality and not price.

The perfect example of that was a recent Saturday where I ran into a friend at Lidl who was complementing their organic produce (unfortunately mainly German so lots of food miles) but still gets his meat in the butchers.

Anyone involved in a commodity business will eventually be killed by bigger companies with better economies of scale. The trick is not to be a commodity. Murphy’s Ice Cream is the perfect example of that.

]]> By: manuel http://icecreamireland.com/2008/09/18/is-it-just-a-matter-of-time/comment-page-1/#comment-41857 manuel Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:02:10 +0000 http://icecreamireland.com/?p=1120#comment-41857 hey as FUGAZI put it, "It's not what they are selling, it;s what we're buying." Forza the independents! hey as FUGAZI put it, “It’s not what they are selling, it;s what we’re buying.” Forza the independents!

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