On the Map

Adverts for the new Rhuthun/Ruthin Tesco appeared in the Denbighshire Free Press this week, at the same time as a major postal snail mailshot in the area.

A Welsh language press advert including map was on page 7 of the Free Press, whereas the English was relegated to page 23, albeit the centre pages (once you’d taken out the houses for sale supplement which, as ever, the Free Press had managed to insert upside down). Gwych, as the advert says.

Pity the poor postal staff of the area with such a major mail drop. The mailshot included some goodies to entice you to shop at Tesco:

 £40 in vouchers - £10 off at the Rhuthun/Ruthin branch only, for each of the first four weeks.
 Two large, strong, reusable carrier bags, "free for you to use anywhere you wish” (in other words, a good advert if they turn up at Somerfield).

The accompanying fully bilingual 10-page booklet described Tesco’s new store in Rhuthun/Ruthin. It’s interesting that there will be a range of “clothing essentials” such as underwear, vests and socks, thus potentially threatening Ethel Austin on the Square, previously felt to be safe from Tesco. There’ll be a lottery terminal, which will put pressure on Williams’ in town

But has Tesco made another slight bloomer? The money off vouchers, exchangeable at the Rhuthun/Ruthin store, specifically exclude Esso fuel, café and prescription medicines. Well. There’s no pharmacy, no café (yet) and no petrol station. Unless Tesco will be in league with Dyffryn Services, the Esso outlet by the Farmers’ Market.