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Somerfields:Are they going - candyfloss (28th Mar 2007  19:54:58) I heard today that somerfields in Liphook is closing. Any one else heard? What is it going to be?

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Helen (28th Mar 2007  20:50:44) Hope not Love being able to run in and buy a loaf of bread and 4 pints of milk without being crushed in a stampede of shoppers.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Paul Robinson (28th Mar 2007  22:24:46) Frankly I am surprised that they have lasted as long as they have. However bad we consider the Sainsburys 'Goliath' to be, the Somerfields 'David' was never a match and frankly, did not try. The range and layout of stock I felt was perplexing at best and inadequate at worst and not a lucky sling shot to be found anywhere. At the risk of laying on the pun with a trowel I would say it was, rather like their car park, never really a level playing field. Paul Robinson

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Mike Grimes (29th Mar 2007  00:55:20) "Any one else heard? What is it going to be? " For Sale, I imagine.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - liz (29th Mar 2007  09:21:04) Lets hope not. Its nice to be able to go in for a small amount of shopping without having to cope with the chaos that is Liphook Sainsburys.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Eneida (29th Mar 2007  09:38:36) I can't comment on Somerfields because I've only been in there once in the last 6 years. But when I only want a few basic items I always go to the Co-op....it's an excellent 'corner shop' and the shelves are always well stocked....in fact I've often found what I've been looking for there when Sainsburys have run out!!! Eneida

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Mike Grimes (29th Mar 2007  14:22:10) What was Somerfield in Petersfield is to become a Marks & Spencer Simply Food store. We can but hope. [editor - In November 2006, the company also sold a further 11 stores to Marks & Spencer to trade under the M&S Simply Food brand. These included stores in Blackheath, London, Petersfield and Alton in Hampshire]

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - LippyChick (29th Mar 2007  21:12:26) Yes I'm afraid it's true. The lady that I spoke to in store this morning told me that the staff were told yesterday. The store has been bought apparently by a company called Country Foods or something like. She says they specialise in ready meals, but that the site isn't to be a retail food store, more of a warehouse for deliveries to be made from. A real shame I think Lips x

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Grahame Polley (29th Mar 2007  22:25:28) I have heard that it has been sold but I don't know the buyer. Grahame

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - S (30th Mar 2007  11:46:35) I heard it was going to be an estate agents as we don't have many of them in Liphook. ;-)

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Tom (30th Mar 2007  13:14:54) I'm not too surprised either. They had one fantastic opportunity to bring in customers and make them want to come back - when Sainsbury's closed for their refurb. Walking in during those couple of days, I found huge queues, most of the checkouts closed and perplexed looking staff. Didn't they see the signs (like Doreen)?

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Helen (30th Mar 2007  18:29:21) why all the negative comments about somerfields when that store was built back in the late 60's early 70's it was plenty big enough for the village the size it was then. The village grew but there was no room for expansion for somerfields. Poor Tom who says most of the tills were shut there is only 4 tills in the shop anyway and about 20 member of staff to cover 85 hours of trading thats not alot of staff. I think they worked hard to accomodate those people who seem to think it is beneath to shop in the store most of the time,but very convienent once the beloved SAINSBURYS was shut for the week. Well done SOMERFIELDS shall be sorry to see you go.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - candyfloss (30th Mar 2007  19:40:36) Helen You are quite right. If these people had frequented Somerfields more - perhaps they would not be in this position. I do feel that some of the complaints justified, the food did run out, and occasionally (rarely in my experience) all tills were not open. Either the Store manager or those above should have tried harder, but I would think that the decision to close would have been made many moons ago, and to run around to satisfy shoppers who hadn't used them in years - and would not use them again, would have been a total waste of time. I am sorry that the rumours I heard are true. I have also heard that it is to be a 'food processing' facility, and perhaps a 'farm shop' selling fresh veg etc. Lets hope so!!

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - PRC Helen (30th Mar 2007  20:08:09) A great shame. I will miss their minced beef! I challenge anyone to find better 'supermarket' minced beef.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Steve (31st Mar 2007  16:54:43) Yes, was told today by one of the staff that Somerfield will indeed close its doors on April 18th. A great shame I feel, and whilst I agree with the some of the comments above the fact of the matter is that it didnt really stand a chance against the might of Sainsburys, even more so now that the latter have got a "bigger, brighter store" bla bla I will certainly miss the shop, but when Petersfield and Alton got the chop I wondered how long it would be before ours met its end. Makes me wonder what is next.... I often wonder how the Jet garage survives against the Sainsbury's petrol...

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - anne (31st Mar 2007  18:53:30) So another chapter of the village of Liphook sadly ends with the forthcoming closure of Somerfield. There are many people of Liphook and the local area who have used this Store from the time it was Gateways.As a retired Staff member of the Liphook Store it seems verysad that the changes in the village have escalated to now regard Liphook as a town and of course the coming of Sainsburys having a knock on effect to the smaller businesses who are struggling to survive.I feel very sorry for the smaller businesses in Station Road because once Somerfield closes people will not be using the area as often so please everyone still support them they need to make a living to survive. May I wish GOOD LUCK to all the Staff who have worked and customers who have supported Somerfield all these years. The Staff have been a great help with serving the elderly on a Thursday for the past 20years when they have arrived on the Community Shopping Bus,they have said they will miss the cheerfulness and kindness of the Staff and do not wish to shop in the bigger store of Sainsburys.I have never shopped in Sainsburys myself so cannot comment on the size because I have always been a supporter of Somerfield. It is also very sad to see the large delivery lorries coming through the village to Sainsburys each day,funny I quite thought the By-Pass was built some years ago to take the traffic from the village centre.Oops!! sorry thats another topic. THANK YOU SOMERFIELD FROM ONE LOYAL CUSTOMER!!!

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Andy (1st Apr 2007  12:11:35) Lack of stock in Somerfields.That rich coming from supporters of sainsburys,all supermarkets have empty shelves.The produce in Sainsburys always looks like a bomb site and has never been full or looked half decent since the day it was built.After the refit, and the clousure of Somerfields,lets see how long it will be before Sainsburys has empty shelves and low stock levels.The village is slowly shutting down because people dont use thier local traders.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Eneida (1st Apr 2007  13:06:09) So Andy you say people should use local traders....right please tell me exactly where is Sainsburys then...I thought it was in Liphook, employing many local people and contributing to the local economy through, I should imagine, very high rates. Surely they are as much a 'local trader' as anybody else?? Eneida

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Doreen (1st Apr 2007  14:09:14) It's a vicious circle isn't it. Don't use your local trader, lose the shop - so then you can't use your local trader and have to go to a supermarket. I've lived in Liphook long enough to remember the butchers(2),greengrocer,shoe shop and many others. I used them all and would again but am forced to shop at a supermarket, so every fortnight I go to Asda in Waterlooville because its cheap,efficient,always fully stocked,open 24 hours, sells quality produce, is always fully staffed by people who couldn’t be more helpful, and has a vast, easy to maneuver in car park. In fact if you’re going to run a supermarket, Asda wouldn’t be a bad blueprint to use. Waitrose and M&S Foodstores also have it right but I wish they’d lower their prices a bit. However, even shopping once a fortnight in an attempt to avoid petrol consumption, I can’t stock up on fresh veggies and I reckon a greengrocer would fly in Liphook. You can’t just ‘pop-in’ anywhere in Liphook any more for a decent selection of fruit & veg . I would take issue with Eneida about Sainsburys being a ‘local trader’. It is a very ‘national trader’ as we all know, and I for one feel no loyalty to it whatsoever. I’m sure it would close down tomorrow without a second thought to the people of Liphook if it were’nt making a healthy profit. It may indeed employ many local people and contribute to the local economy, but then so would a variety of independent local shops on the same site.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Steve Read (1st Apr 2007  16:10:31) Doreen, I bet the local traders at Waterlooville welcomed Asda's when that got built as well. Same old story put it somewhere else but not on my doorstep. Next time I go that way I will have a count up of the signs.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Doreen (1st Apr 2007  23:10:51) If you read my post Steve you would have noted that I'd rather not use a supermarket at all. But if I'm forced to then it will be the cheapest, most efficient one I can find. And that definitely isn't the one in my back yard.

Re: Somerfields:Are they going - Sumi Beken (2nd Apr 2007  13:35:43) I only started using Somerfield recently when i found it handy to buy kitten food on my way home. I must admit to have avoided it for stupid snobbish reasons - more fool me when i saw the special offers in store. It didn't have everything I wanted (organic food, less processed food) but it allowed me to stock up on items, I would have bought anyway but at less cost. Still, it was very handy to have a small supermarket so close to hand to the station, especially as it's open in the evening when all the local, smaller shops are closed. So i shall be sorry to see it go. I tend to buy the majority of my food stuffs at the local Farmers' Markets and Farm Shops and if i need to top up my veg, I'll go to Sainsbury's and only buy UK grown organic veg as I am very aware of food miles. I am probably going to join OrgaNick's box scheme but it would be great if Somerfield's were replaced by an outlet that showcased local meat and veg - i don't want to rely on Sainsbury's if i can help it!

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