2020 Retailers in trouble thread

[i4got]

jakesmith said:

Not really sure where to start but I have no connection with the business and it is very arrogant to assume you are so infallable in your opinion that someone who thinks differently to you must be a plant for the company. If you think you get the same level of food, beverage offering, quality of location, variety of menu, or service, at Pizza Hut as PizEx, then you simply don't understand how to discern a consumer proposition. If you can't discern a premium proposition then good for you, save a bit of money eating in Pizza Hut.

Doesn't mean there isn't a difference there and that the choice of others is invalid because they are willing to sit in a nice city center location rather than a business park, or want a selection of new dishes frequently, a range of healthy options, a wider selection of different drinks like wines and well made cocktails, nice light airy decor with quality furnishings, a pleasant ambiance created by considered music and lighting, or staff that know about the food and drink, or any of the other features that drive a price up very slightly.

Personally I prefer that to the feeding-time-at-the-zoo of the Pizza hut all you can eat buffet and am very happy to spend a few £ extra for the experience.

Funny. You carry on eating at your premium restaurant (who sell their product through the supermarkets) and looking down your nose at those who eat in Pizza Hut.

I'll stick with restaurants that employ real chefs and sommeliers.

I may occasionally pop into Pizza Express or another chain but I won't try to kid myself that they are in any way premium.

Seriously though, you should apply for a job as Pizza Express PR I've seriously never seen such prose about a high street chain restaurant.

[Robertj21a]

Anonymous-poster said:

Robertj21a said:

jakesmith said:

No it is not overpriced, as there is nothing else comparable on the market, it is cheap for what you get
No it is not basic food, it requires expensive equipment, a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and more training than many other high street chains
You haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

You're either naive or incredibly blinkered if you honestly believe much of that twaddle.

What part of the hospitality industry are you in?

I don't need to be in the business to know that a meal out at Pizza Express can end up more expensive than many people feel is realistic. Perhaps if those in the business feel that their customers have to have a detailed understanding of what goes in a basic pizza then it might explain why so many such operations are closing down.

[Anonymous-poster]

Robertj21a said:

Anonymous-poster said:

Robertj21a said:

jakesmith said:

No it is not overpriced, as there is nothing else comparable on the market, it is cheap for what you get
No it is not basic food, it requires expensive equipment, a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and more training than many other high street chains
You haven't got a clue what you're talking about.

You're either naive or incredibly blinkered if you honestly believe much of that twaddle.

What part of the hospitality industry are you in?

I don't need to be in the business to know that a meal out at Pizza Express can end up more expensive than many people feel is realistic. Perhaps if those in the business feel that their customers have to have a detailed understanding of what goes in a basic pizza then it might explain why so many such operations are closing down.

Thought so!

[jakesmith]

i4got said:

jakesmith said:

Not really sure where to start but I have no connection with the business and it is very arrogant to assume you are so infallable in your opinion that someone who thinks differently to you must be a plant for the company. If you think you get the same level of food, beverage offering, quality of location, variety of menu, or service, at Pizza Hut as PizEx, then you simply don't understand how to discern a consumer proposition. If you can't discern a premium proposition then good for you, save a bit of money eating in Pizza Hut.

Doesn't mean there isn't a difference there and that the choice of others is invalid because they are willing to sit in a nice city center location rather than a business park, or want a selection of new dishes frequently, a range of healthy options, a wider selection of different drinks like wines and well made cocktails, nice light airy decor with quality furnishings, a pleasant ambiance created by considered music and lighting, or staff that know about the food and drink, or any of the other features that drive a price up very slightly.

Personally I prefer that to the feeding-time-at-the-zoo of the Pizza hut all you can eat buffet and am very happy to spend a few £ extra for the experience.

Funny. You carry on eating at your premium restaurant (who sell their product through the supermarkets) and looking down your nose at those who eat in Pizza Hut.

I'll stick with restaurants that employ real chefs and sommeliers.

I may occasionally pop into Pizza Express or another chain but I won't try to kid myself that they are in any way premium.

Seriously though, you should apply for a job as Pizza Express PR I've seriously never seen such prose about a high street chain restaurant.

Oh it gets even better, you think a supermarket pizza is the same as a restaurant one
You prefer going to restaurants with a somellier to help you pick a wine that pairs with your food but don't see the value that Pizza Express adds over Pizza Hut to justify a few extra quid a head.
Honestly, you couldn't have written anything to make yourself look more out of touch and ridiculous

[MaxFromage]

jakesmith said:

Not really sure where to start but I have no connection with the business and it is very arrogant to assume you are so infallable in your opinion that someone who thinks differently to you must be a plant for the company. If you think you get the same level of food, beverage offering, quality of location, variety of menu, or service, at Pizza Hut as PizEx, then you simply don't understand how to discern a consumer proposition. If you can't discern a premium proposition then good for you, save a bit of money eating in Pizza Hut.

Come on, Pizza Express is not a premium proposition. Pizza is the wrong product to try and make 'premium'. I can eat at a multitude of restaurants, independent and chain, that offer a far better choice and IMO quality at a similar or cheaper price. It's a good restaurant if you have young kids, but that's about all it has to offer if you're into your food.

[i4got]

jakesmith said:

Oh it gets even better, you think a supermarket pizza is the same as a restaurant one
You prefer going to restaurants with a somellier to help you pick a wine that pairs with your food but don't see the value that Pizza Express adds over Pizza Hut to justify a few extra quid a head.
Honestly, you couldn't have written anything to make yourself look more out of touch and ridiculous

I could look more ridiculous.

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

Meanwhile your preferred chain will still sell its stuff in Asda for £4.

[vaud]

i4got said:

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

I don't think anyone said it was a high class night out, just that it was in the "higher end" of the competition of cheap/sit down pizza restaurants.

[Carl_Manchester]

I frequent pizza express with friends and really like the experience. My daughter loves it even more.

i rarely have pizza when i go , i usually have what’s on special.

if it survives long term it will be pizza express imho.

[Robertj21a]

i4got said:

jakesmith said:

Oh it gets even better, you think a supermarket pizza is the same as a restaurant one
You prefer going to restaurants with a somellier to help you pick a wine that pairs with your food but don't see the value that Pizza Express adds over Pizza Hut to justify a few extra quid a head.
Honestly, you couldn't have written anything to make yourself look more out of touch and ridiculous

I could look more ridiculous.

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

Meanwhile your preferred chain will still sell its stuff in Asda for £4.

....and that's with Asda taking a slice (!!) for their profit margin too.

It's only a pizza - simple fast food stuff that you can get virtually anywhere, much like burgers or kebabs. Certainly, no need to make out it's something so gloriously different that a premium is appropriate.
But I forgot, I'm only the customer who pays the bill - and I'm clearly not allowed to voice my concerns. Is it any wonder the businesses are failing.........

Edited by Robertj21a on Thursday 16th July 19:56

[snuffy]

I think you can buy a can of Carling for £1 for a pint can in your local offie.

And yet pubs charge around £4 a pint for the same thing.

What a rip off ! It's a con I tell you. What are they playing at ?

[i4got]

vaud said:

i4got said:

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

I don't think anyone said it was a high class night out, just that it was in the "higher end" of the competition of cheap/sit down pizza restaurants.

OK I accept the term used was premium rather than high class.

But in my defence I was responding to someone who described Pizza Express as.

" there is nothing else comparable on the market"
"it is cheap for what you get"
"it requires expensive equipment, a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and more training than many other high street chains"
`Then goes on to talk about the higher " level of food, beverage offering, quality of location, variety of menu, or service"

Please. Its a high street pizza restaurant.

[Gecko1978]

jakesmith said:

Oh it gets even better, you think a supermarket pizza is the same as a restaurant one
You prefer going to restaurants with a somellier to help you pick a wine that pairs with your food but don't see the value that Pizza Express adds over Pizza Hut to justify a few extra quid a head.
Honestly, you couldn't have written anything to make yourself look more out of touch and ridiculous

To be fair you can (and I do) buy pizza express pizza in tesco etc. Americano and sloppy Joe taste just the same at home or in the restaurant. The price difference is staff, rent, service, eating it on a plate, having it cooked in the oven etc. That's what you pay for. Personally I would rather buy the tesco one but then again I don't eat in at pizza hut either.

[anonymous-user]

vaud said:

i4got said:

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

I don't think anyone said it was a high class night out, just that it was in the "higher end" of the competition of cheap/sit down pizza restaurants.

I think Pizza Express is VW to Pizza Huts Vauxhall.

Both make pretty.much the same thing, one slightly better than the other and you'd be happy with either if you knew what you were getting.

[Gweeds]

Robertj21a said:

I don't need to be in the business to know that a meal out at Pizza Express can end up more expensive than many people feel is realistic. Perhaps if those in the business feel that their customers have to have a detailed understanding of what goes in a basic pizza then it might explain why so many such operations are closing down.

That’s all fine, but you’re ignoring the fact that PE isn’t in trouble because they have a flawed business model but because of the owners who have repeatedly loaded it with debt to extract cash themselves.

They’re closing down because private equity needs to buy, rinse and flip.

[Lemming Train]

I guess we should add Pizza Express to the ever growing list (along with John Lewis) of names of retailers that must not be mentioned in this thread to prevent a certain individual becoming apoplectic with rage over someone daring to say something negative about a high street retailer/eatery . It's really quite tiresome.

[jakesmith]

Lemming Train said:

I guess we should add Pizza Express to the ever growing list (along with John Lewis) of names of retailers that must not be mentioned in this thread to prevent a certain individual becoming apoplectic with rage over someone daring to say something negative about a high street retailer/eatery . It's really quite tiresome.

Matched only by the utter tedious drivel you post

[jakesmith]

Gecko1978 said:

To be fair you can (and I do) buy pizza express pizza in tesco etc. Americano and sloppy Joe taste just the same at home or in the restaurant. The price difference is staff, rent, service, eating it on a plate, having it cooked in the oven etc. That's what you pay for. Personally I would rather buy the tesco one but then again I don't eat in at pizza hut either.

Honestly if you think a factory produced supermarket pizza tasted the same as a freshly prepared and cooked one then enjoy the cost saving. Many would strongly disagree though.

[Europa1]

vaud said:

i4got said:

I could be arguing on the internet that Pizza Express is a high class night out.

I don't think anyone said it was a high class night out, just that it was in the "higher end" of the competition of cheap/sit down pizza restaurants.

Yep, I assumed "premium proposition" was being used as a term of art in the industry, similar to "casual dining" (which Pizza Express falls into).

[Steve vRS]

I like Pizza Express for a meal with the kids. I always pay with Tesco vouchers or Meerkat Meals though.

The pizzas are nice but the price of beer is a bit steep.

[Flumpo]

I’m struggling to recognise any of these descriptions in relation to pizza express.

I’ve always considered it firmly in the frankie and bennys, ask Italian and zizis bracket.

Nothing fancy but hardly McDonald’s as others are suggesting.

For me squarely aimed at the teenagers on dates, families who can’t take kids to real restaurants, staff lunch/dinner, stressed people stuck in a town centre and want something of reasonable quality and don’t need to book.

Nothing wrong with any of those places and classic chain offering. You know what you’re getting, you know the price bracket and there is always a voucher available within 10 seconds of a google search.

No idea why there is so much debate.

Very sad for the job losses.