Whole Foods Takes on Jammy Dodger Culture

Poured over a lovely, big pile of British daily newspapers which arrived fresh on the coffee table late last night upon return of gallivanting husband from long-distance, extended weekend family festivities at his brother Michael's UK wedding.

For the many Britons living along the farthest reaches of America's west coast, there's a universal list of essential staples which absolutely must be tucked into the side pockets of already over-stuffed return journey luggage of UK-bound compatriots. Jammy Dodgers (see above for generic M&S version of this tea-time classic), HP Sauce, PG Tips (although becoming increasingly available in CA), McVities Milk Chocolate (or dark chocolate, depending upon preference) Digestive Biscuits, several packs of Tunnock's Caramel Waifers, a stash of McVities Penguin Biscuits (for the kids' packed lunches),  Bird's Custard Powder, Angel Delight Pudding Mix, and last, but not least a massive pile of latest edition newspapers. Including the previous Sunday' newspaper's thick, glossy color supplements which are undoubtedly the best in the world.

The big decision upon delving into this pile of newsprint was which to pick first? The Sunday Times supplement with Chef Gordon (above) rather uncharacteristically coy in peeking over a hearty bunch of collard greens on the full-color cover? Inside is a feature on first time novelist Rose Heiney (24), daughter of one of my all-time favorite British journalists, the inimitable Libby Purves, whose English versions of Anne-Lammot's Operating Instructions on becoming a Mum made the most sense to me way back when my first was born.

The Heiney family has suffered more than their share of tragedy since Libby's How Not to Be A Perfect Mother series packed  British bookstores with new Mums desperately seeking some humor in the process. So I can't wait to sit down with a cup of tea and a newly opened packet of choccie biccies, to read more about Rose's literary debut.

There's the weekly Slummy Mummy column which would never make its appearance in a Stateside glossy mag of similar stature, so busy are we here on pursuing eternal youth, ultra efficiency, uber-parenting and continual glamor. Slummy Mummy offers a witty, though understated slice of advice for the domestically challenged, and anyone who frequently finds herself strolling down the street with kids in tow, and skirt inadvertently tucked up into her knickers (read panty in America).

Then there is the Sunday Times Style Supplement, which I must save for my photographer pal, Steph, who will love the kooky, stylish KIDZ shoot with pale faced English children in grey woolen cardigans and flowery shirts, posing ram-rod straight in vintage floral wallpapered, posh British playrooms.

Inside the Daily Mail there was a feature on Whole Foods taking on the UK in its first, flagship store in tony Kensington. If an upscale supermarket can't make it in this exclusive central London stomping ground of the rich and famous (think Kensington Palace, former home of the late Princess Di), then reportedly struggling Whole Foods UK is going to have a bit of a challenge establishing a devoted customer base in other parts of England.

The Mail (which is, incidentally the most middle-class conservative of UK tabloids) reports that the 80,000 sq ft Kensington store is said to be losing thousands of pounds a week, as suppliers of fresh, organic produce claim to be extremely disappointed in low sales and lots of wastage.

There are several leading competitors in UK upscale supermarkets, including Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, and these long-time companies have a distinct advantage over an American owned food store in that they understand the cultural balance of producing their own specific brand of traditional jammie dodgers to sell alongside demand for organic local produce and free range, British farmed eggs and meat. You can't take the old-peculiar out of an English pantry. Wholefoods will have to make some major cultural adjustments to make it work, even in the poshest parts of England, where punters still love their Lincolnshire sausage, stilton cheese and a cherry Bakewell or two.

I was intrigued to read about Richard Branson's successful Virgin Active gym chain, which continues to grow despite gloomy economic outlook in the UK. With gas prices in Britain hovering at the $8 a gallon mark (yes, America, we ain't seen nothin' yet), building up the bike riding stamina is a cost effective idea. And wouldn't we love to see Richard open a few Virgin Active establishments here in California, where we get a bit tired of the ultra-right approach of monopolizing 24 Hour Fitness?

Job losses are up, the population is booming (despite this being an already well stocked island), the Brits are ripping out their lush front lawns in favor of a grow-your-own veggie patch epidemic response to the much-lauded approach of the locust era.

Blimey. One hundred and fifty estate agent offices (read Real Estate)are shutting shop each day in Britain as the US housing crunch extends overseas.

Bob Geldof (and the late Paula Yates') tv celeb daughter Peaches looks to be screeching off the rails and  frequenting (on camera) the same dodgy dealers as Kate Moss, Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse. But, hey, it beats reading about Britney Spears. And the Burma death toll at least made the front pages.