Supermarket

[tracymort]

In your opinion, are those bigger labels under products in supermarkets (e.g. asda's have a pic of a bag on 'lower prices' and the product details on it) promotional?

[indiesinger]

Even 'though I suspect you're just a market reseacher... yes I do think they're promotional. Often when scanning the shelves, you look for the familiar big block of colour which means cheapness/points/deals. Well I do, anyway. Not if I'm looking for something specific, but if I'm just glancing along isles. In Sainsbury's, I look for the purple Nectar signs telling me I get a certain amount of points if I buy that product.

[LeMarchand]

They can be - but it's annoying when the sign isn't correctly placed, and you pick up something that isn't on offer!

[tracymort]

actually im not a market researcher just a nursing mummy and have a difference of opinion! Asda's currently have these "shelf talkers" as they are known displayed that draw attention to low prices on their infant milk. this is in breech of number 19 of "The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995 " Asda say these labels are not promotional, i say they are otherwise why would they bother putting them up! You probably think why am i bothered. In norway advertising of any infant milk is banned, they have breastfeeding rates 4 times ours! http://www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk ooh its not just asdas tesco have done this recently too.

[templeman]

In my opinion the signs to which you refer are not "promotional" in the sense that you mean. They are merely pointing out to you where the goods are and at what price they are being offered for sale. To follow your logic you may wish to see the labels removed from the tins / bottles / jars / packets etc.

[tracymort]

no there are already labels up with the price etc on them these are the bigger ones (that not all products have) that draw attention to the product and have pictures/logos etc on them. you are not meant to make any kind of display or draw attention to formula in anyway.

[templeman]

Tracyh, I think that you are incorrect with your interpretation of *drawing attention to the product*. If you couldn't do that at all then it would be nigh on impossible to sell. The 'code' that applies to these products is designed to stop the promotion of certain baby products above breastmilk
The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is only a recommendation and has no force in law.
I suggest that if you want further clarification you could contact the association to which you gave the link above. But I do think that their web site clearly explains the situation.

[rja211077]

templemen, the code may have no statutory backing but the regulations tracyh mentions do. having read regulation 19 i have to say that i think that Asda may be in breach of the regulations in the situation described (it could be either clause a, b or e they are contravening). it's by no means clear cut though. link to the regs here: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/cgi-bin2/hmso_hl?DB=hmso-ne
w&STEMMER=en&WORDS=infant+formula+regulations+1995+&COLOUR=Red&STYLE=s&URL=http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19950077_en_1.htm

[tracymort]

Well trading standards take my view too, its asda that are arguing it! As for making it "nigh on impossible to sell" thats would be great!! Obviously it needs to be available (perhaps through a pharmacist) for women who truly cannot feed but most women with the correct support (which many women here don't get) and without the influence of marketing would manage breastfeeding! As i mentioned before I believe how country should follow Norway. They have a 98% breastfeeding rate at birth, we have 69%. They have just 2 brands of formula, neither are promoted at all and health packs don't contain formula adverts. Those who do bottlefeed get sympathy as it is known that they really must have a problem to not be able to feed. Here we get cow and gate sponsoring midwives!!! I know its a silly little thing about labels but i believe it all adds up to a artificially fed society!

[AllYourBase]

I work for a more ethical retailer - a well known chain of local chemists and we do not use these shelf talkers for baby feeds for the above reason. Asda will do anything to get a few extra quid and is not afraid to challenge regulations and woolly guidelines such as this. Although I don't think it's right, I defend their right to try to push things forward.

[gellis]

I think that all of you have made very good points, but to get back to the original question. I have recently moved down south from Manchester, and have found after conversations with family and friends about differences in the prices up North and down here, that it appears that whist stores in the North may be running certain promotions on certain items, this is not always the case in the South, therefore each store, no matter whom, has promotionals, on certian goods, depending on area. In conclusion, at last , Yes they are Promotionals