Free range chicken - local stores

So the recent Chicken Out campaign had a big effect on me. Only once since the programme aired have I slipped into eating filthy chicken, and I only half-knew. However, the effect has largely been that I stopped eating chicken altogether. Not for want of trying mind you. The local and massive Sainsbury’s in Balham barely increased their stock of free range chickens after the campaign, so they never had any in stock.

I have recently moved and my local store, unfortunately, is now the Somerfield on Streatham High St. It isnt a tiny store although it is a local one, so has less of everything than a supermarket, of course. I went in today to buy some free range chicken for a stir-fry, having assumed that all major supermarkets and their local stores would supply at least ’some’ free range chicken, particularly following the attention the campaign has been getting lately.

However, there was none in stock and I couldn’t see any space for any, despite there being an offer on for chicken which actually described free range as an option.

I asked the cashier if this Somerfield store ever sold any free range chicken. After saying “what?” & “Is that a brand?”, it became quite clear that she had no idea what free range chicken was! So we asked another member of staff who said “this store never sells free range chicken“. What is going on? I assume this is an economic decision, Somerfield believes there is no demand for the product in the area.

However, how can Somerfield know if people aren’t wanting free range chicken if they dont even offer it as a choice? Madness.