Return of the butcher counter in Mercadona

Shopping in my local branch of Mercadona yesterday I was intrigued by all the building work going on and around the meat department. I enquired at the small counter and the girl replied that they were extending the fresh meat counter ..... "like they use to have some 4/5 years ago over there" I asked pointing to the opposite side. "Yes" she replied - "the customers don't like the meat pre-packed so they are bring back the counters" ! It did make me laugh .... and walking over to the fish section the same is happening over there too.

Some years ago a bright spark had the "ingenious idea" of saving on man power and selling all the meat pre-packed - even back then I had misgivings. We the customer like to see exactly what we are buying and purchase the quantities we want. It was only a matter of time before the penny dropped - or rather didn't as takings have obviously fallen significantly for them to be re-instating them .... and not only here in Albir but apparently across all the branches I was told. This one will be up and running on Monday !

There is a branch of "SuperValu"  very close to where I live where they have a "proper butcher" and there is always a queue - no matter what time of the day I go. Invariably I will be behind a little old lady who is buying a slice of literally everything behind the counter - just last week I was behind the said lady and amongst her list she asked for 1 chicken drum stick ... and wanted it de-boned! The butcher didn't flinch at the request and proceeded to de-bone it beautifully.

Soon to be extended butchers dept under construction.

 I said proper in inverted commas as I recall reading back in April of  last year how a "butcher" at a Sainsburys' in the UK was unable to use a knife to debone a lamb leg for fear that he might cut himself!  Just looking at the article again  it stated " The supermarket butcher informed the customer that his managers would not allow him to use knives because he is not insured and he might cut himself. The customer replied that he had trouble believing what he was hearing. A spokeswoman for the company confirmed that it was store policy that workers at the company's meat counters had been trained to use knives for basic use but it had been deemed an unsafe working environment for butchers to take a knife to a lamb joint".
This really is a case of utter madness and health & safety gone barmy ... what on earth are butchers meant to use - plastic spoons !
Well rest assured if you want anything cutting or de-boning there will be no problem here in the Benidorm area - and just a note for all you that shop at the Albir branch of Mercadona, it will be CLOSED next Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th November due to the local fiesta's.