1 minute read
Before You Go...
by 55 North
RETAIL RANDOMS
100 things...we hate about lists
With Aldi set to open its 100th store north of Hadrian’s Wall tomorrow (25 November), at Hermiston Gait Retail Park in Edinburgh, the supermarket chain has published a list of ‘100 things we love about Scotland’.
This was the usual mix of stereotyping tosh (kilts, whisky, bagpipes, square sausage, the Proclaimers) topped up with a generous helping of filler material to round it up to 100 (men in kilts, women in kilts, buskers, Amy McDonald). At least there was no mention of deep-fried Mars bars. Or Amy McDonald busking in a kilt.
Predictably, the list generated a barrage of comments (600 and counting) from picky Scots quick to point out things Aldi had missed. Tablet, macaroon bars, macaroni pies, Tunnock’s tea cakes and Irn-Bru were all demanded by calorie-crazed Caledonians.
Given its fondness for beating Westminster to the punch with new legislation (deposit return scheme, minimum unit pricing, protection of shopworkers), this makes one wonder why the Scottish government has been dragging its heels lately over junk food rules.
Anyway, the list was so successful Aldi swiftly followed it up another which featured – wait for it – dogs in kilts. We’re also sad to report the number one slot went to… deep-fried Mars bars.
What a carve-up
New research has made the earth-shattering discovery that 43% of party goers say they’re likely to over-indulge in December, no doubt to make up for the fairly dismal festive season that was Covid’s Christmas gift last year.
This also means a large number of festive frolickers will be suffering the next day. The research also revealed that, after a night out, it takes 5.7 hours to recover on average, with 20% of Brits staying in their PJs all morning when feeling delicate. Or when turning themselves inside out with their head down the toilet.
As for recovery food, Brits believe takeaways are best when feeling burst, with 28% of respondents plumping for pizza.
Surprisingly, carveries were the nation’s second-favourite choice for hangover grub.
Surprising, that is, until you discover the research was conducted on behalf of Farmhouse Inns, which operates a chain of 70 carveries across the UK.
That plinking sound you canhear is an extremely cynical pennydropping.
