This time last year, we speculated that with the coming of Tesco the seasonal pre-2006 Christmas queues at Rhuthun’s Co-op would be a thing of the past.
Did we get that prediction right?
Well, it was something of a surprise on the last full trading day before Christmas (Saturday 23rd) that we found all three of Rhuthun’s supermarkets busy. Shoppers were chasing car-parking spaces at each site. Somerfield was reasonable; Co-op was the busiest it has ever been post-Tesco and although there weren’t long queues at each checkout like last year, Co-op felt full. It operated all but one checkout, at the time of our survey.
Tesco, too, had all but one of its 14 checkouts open at mid-morning (one express till was closed). As you’d expect, it was more full than the other two but not so heaving as to be unbearable. There were no significantly large tailbacks from checkout to aisle. Certain vegetables began to run out by mid-morning, but these tended to be the more exotic or pre-packed produce; there were plenty of caulis, broccoli, carrots… and sprouts.
What was it like in the town itself?
The Troed-y-Rhiw car park was near deserted. Not as busy as the Saturday beforehand but
popular, nonetheless. Butchers were doing particualrly well, especially John Jones, with significant queues out of the door onto Clwyd Street till late afternoon.
And Sunday 24th? A few hardy shops opened for the sprinkling of shoppers, like the first snows of winter. By mid-morning, Tesco car park was at 80 per cent capacity and Co-op at 50 per cent. Somerfield’s was blocked by a last minute delivery, so it was difficult to judge.
Did we get that prediction right?
Well, it was something of a surprise on the last full trading day before Christmas (Saturday 23rd) that we found all three of Rhuthun’s supermarkets busy. Shoppers were chasing car-parking spaces at each site. Somerfield was reasonable; Co-op was the busiest it has ever been post-Tesco and although there weren’t long queues at each checkout like last year, Co-op felt full. It operated all but one checkout, at the time of our survey.
Tesco, too, had all but one of its 14 checkouts open at mid-morning (one express till was closed). As you’d expect, it was more full than the other two but not so heaving as to be unbearable. There were no significantly large tailbacks from checkout to aisle. Certain vegetables began to run out by mid-morning, but these tended to be the more exotic or pre-packed produce; there were plenty of caulis, broccoli, carrots… and sprouts.What was it like in the town itself?
The Troed-y-Rhiw car park was near deserted. Not as busy as the Saturday beforehand but
popular, nonetheless. Butchers were doing particualrly well, especially John Jones, with significant queues out of the door onto Clwyd Street till late afternoon.And Sunday 24th? A few hardy shops opened for the sprinkling of shoppers, like the first snows of winter. By mid-morning, Tesco car park was at 80 per cent capacity and Co-op at 50 per cent. Somerfield’s was blocked by a last minute delivery, so it was difficult to judge.