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A FRENCH SUPERMARKET chain’s decision to slash the price of Nutella by 70% has sparked frenzy, with shoppers across the country jostling to squirrel away as many jars of the nutty spread as possible in what one worker likened to an orgy.
Video posted online yesterday and testimony from baffled supermarket workers showed long queues forming outside Intermarche supermarkets and chaotic scenes as bargain hunters stormed inside.
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“People just rushed in, shoving everyone, breaking things. It was like an orgy,” one employee in the northeastern town of Forbach told AFP, asking to remain anonymous.
We were on the verge of calling the police.
Another employee in Revigny-sur-Ornain said it was no wonder there was a run on the shelves: “70% off? That’s a steal.”
When contacted by AFP, Intermarche apologised to its customers and said it had been “surprised” by the sheer demand.
The chain usually sells Nutella for €4.50 but with the discount jars were going for just €1.41.
DPA / PA Images
DPA / PA Images / PA Images
Ferrero, the Italian company that makes Nutella, said the discount decision was taken “unilaterally” by Intermarche and risked creating “confusion and disappointment” for consumers.
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@Ron North: Imagine though that that was your biggest problem in life….trying to get a jar of chocolate spread for €3 cheaper…they mustn’t have too much to worry about
@Gillian Scully: Probably not much. The reason they went mad was because they could buy in bulk at a discounted rate and get a number of jars for the price they’d usually pay for 1. Can’t imagine one jar would garner much interest.
If they could sell it at reduced price, and still make a profit, why are they selling it at the original price? Sales frenzy and prices just baffles me. I like them though but I always feel cheated at the same time.
They are probably clearing the stock of the Original – Real Nutella – before bringing in the new recipe one with the cheaper ingredients.
Maybe the real reason?
ps. Debenhams Blanch was selling it for €3 when their custom label printer ran out of paper – but there was loads of them on the shelf with few takers.
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