Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Delice de France - imported sarnies?

I found myself travelling home from London slightly late the other night after stopping for a couple of Guinnesses after work. As often happens in this situation I hadn't eaten so decided to grab something from the station. In the past I would have had a Burger King, but I'm going off them (the ones from Euston anyway, plus I had one for lunch!) and wanted something different. The kiosk closest to the appointed platform was Delice de France so I swung by and ordered a panini and a pastry.

As I stood on the train and ate, something on the packaging caught my eye:

This produce has been manufactured in France using only the finest grades of flour from specially selected wheats.

What? Are they blatantly lying or do they actually make sandwiches in France and drive them over to the UK - a big lorry full of rolls, stopping at every Delice kiosk from Dover northwards until demand outstrips supply? Either they're just being plain stupid and breaking the Trade Descriptions Act or they really are importing butties from the continent.

The packaging goes on to say:

We pride ourselves on the care and attention taken to ensure that our customers' requirements are fulfilled every time.

Now, given that Delice De France outlets are normally located in the sort of place where people just want a fast-food, slightly healthier alternative to BK and McD, the customers' requirement is for food that simply tastes OK - they're not expecting a cordon bleu experience consisting of imported delicacies. And to be honest the only bit of that sentence they seem to be getting is 'imported' - the food is as average as you would expect from a train station.

I'm not normally the type of person who spends time scouring the shops for 'local produce'. However, my carbon footprint is large enough already, thanks (twenty flights so far this year and I haven't been travelling much) - I don't think I'll be visiting Delice again.

2 comments:

Livingsword said...

Interesting article Dave. I checked out all of your links and have to say that the selection of food by Delice de France looked much better than BK. I wonder if things hinge on “manufactured”? I remember several years ago killing time waiting for a friend to meet up with me outside a store front, I looked in the window and they were selling wigs, a sign said “genuine synthetic hair”!

David said...

manufactured in France defrosted in the UK. that's my guess