[USMA:27483] Tesco reverting to imperial

[Mighty Chimp]

There have been some postings to the metricsucks discussion board concerning Tescos and some press release stating a reversion back to imperial units.  Does anyone from the UK know of such press release?  Is this press release recent?  If it is not, when was it first published and what has changed or not changed since the press release?   Postings to the metricsucks discussion board:     I have, in the past, criticised people for simply cut and pasting webpages as proof of certain things. Recently I have had to do this due to myself and Tescos being accused of liars (tesco shareholders have executed the chief exec over this) Anyway - this is the FINAL paste job. The source is the BBC (who tend to be anti-almost-everything-british). I'm not posting other peoples work anymore so if you cannot believe these posts from source then "the screw must be loose". So, onto the final cut and paste job that should make out Euric (psedonym) to be a complete crackpot. Look out for "9 out of 10" and "EU law" etc you complete loser! (ROTFL) The supermarket chain Tesco could be taken to court for selling food using pounds and ounces. The store took the decision after a survey of more than 1,000 customers showed nine out of 10 still used imperial measurements in their heads. But the trading standards office is questioning the legality of the move, saying it is "very concerned" about Tesco's signs in its shops, which feature imperial measures. Under European regulations enforced at the beginning of the year, the metric system of grams and kilograms must take precedence over imperial. Imperial on advertising boards Advertising boards in Tesco stores now feature imperial measures only - while food on the shelves will be labelled in both metric and imperial. Scales at the stores' fruit and vegetable and deli counters feature both measurements so customers have the choice. Scales measuring products at the till will remain in metric, in compliance with EU law. The company stresses that it is well within the law. "We are 100 per cent legal," said Tesco spokesman Russel Craig. "Metric measurements are shown at the point of sale, on packaging and checkout print-outs, completely observing the law "We are showing imperial weights by hanging boards from the ceiling and showing special offers. The shelf edge labelling shows metric and imperial at the same time," he said. Mr Craig said the pounds and ounces signs went up on Monday and on the next day the number of Tesco customers rose by 10,000. "The customers love it - we are not being anti-Europe, we are being pro-customer." Heavy fines As the law stands, shopkeepers can be fined �2,000 for pricing loose goods such as fruit and vegetables solely in imperial. Since October 1995, all goods sold pre-packaged have had to be labelled in the metric system of grams and kilograms. A poll, commissioned by the British Weights and Measures Association (BWMA) last year, said most people preferred to maintain imperial measures, alongside metric. The survey, carried out by an independent polling company, found 72% of youngsters and adults in the UK wanted to keep imperial measures. In fact, many young British people have divided loyalties, using a hybrid that mixes pints with litres, miles with metres, stones with kilograms.     Another posting:   Looks like I was wrong! It's 2000 quid not 5000 quid. OR IMPRISONMENT!!!!! (check the name of the trading standards officer!) Rebel trader Peter Ellis says the war against the metric system is being won following the decision by Tesco to return to pounds and ounces. Mr Ellis openly flouts the law at his Newhaven business by selling fish in pounds and ounces. He has still to be prosecuted for his defiance. East Sussex County Council has said it would not use him as a test case, but will take action once the legislation has proved sound. He and other rebels who refuse to bow to European stating that prices must be displayed in metric units are delighted at the action by Tesco. Mr Ellis, 54, director of Network Seafoods at Newhaven, one of the main fish wholesalers in Sussex, has been inundated with letters and messages of support since his fight to keep imperial measures featured in the Argus. He has challenged trading standards officers at East Sussex County Council to prosecute him. He openly displays all his prices solely in pounds and ounces, illegally uses pure imperial scales - and his customers love it. His company does sell in metric when required, but few people demand it. He said even French visitors on day trips supported him for sticking to pounds and ounces. Mr Ellis faces a maximum fine of �2,000 and could be jailed for not displaying metric prices. The law banning the sole use of pounds and ounces for the sale of food was brought in to create uniformity across Europe and to stop British traders gaining an advantage as prices in displayed in pounds and ounces appear cheaper than in kilos and grams. So far there have been no moves by trading standards officers to prosecute Mr Ellis. They are awaiting the results of test cases against people elsewhere in the country. The law states that metric measurements must take precedence over imperial and must be in larger type. Peter Ellis displays everything in pounds and ounces. Metric prices are only available on request. Mr Ellis, who has become involved with the British Weights and Measures Association, which is campaigning to keep imperial measures, since starting his fight, was delighted with Tesco. He said: "I am over the moon. This brave move by Tesco is a step in the right direction. I genuinely believe we are winning the war against metric. I am just doing what customers want. "I can provide metric measures, but nobody asks. I am ready to be prosecuted and we are all waiting for a test case." East Sussex trading standards officer Roger Wankling said: "We will not be the first authority to force a test case. "Mr Ellis is breaking the law. As soon as the courts have proved the legislation is sound, we will take positive action."   And yet another:   How many times do I have to post this! This is the LAST TIME. "Euric" (psuedonym) PLEASE READ - then digest - then call me a liar again. P.S. I really don't have the time to type all this crap out myself - I leave your sort to do that. This is from tesco! Tesco Press release Imperial weights and measures are to be reintroduced and highlighted in a move to help confused shoppers. Tesco will reintroduce price per lbs on product packs, imperial weights will be enlarged on shelf edge labels and metric will be dropped from point of sale material. Under new Euro rules, metric measurements are meant to take precedence. But research by Tesco has shown customers still weigh up their purchases in pounds and ounces. Over 53 per cent of customers find metric confusing and 76 per cent of customers would like imperial measurements displayed. Only 8 per cent of customers would like metric weight displayed on its own. The research also showed that most customers ''think'' in imperial. When asked to guess the weight of a bag of apples, 87 per cent of customers estimated the weight in imperial, when asked the same question for Fresh Mince, 86 per cent of customers expressed their answer in imperial. "It''s time to turn the scales in favour of the British customer, 90 per cent of our shoppers think in imperial " says Tesco Marketing Director, Tim Mason, "They tell us when it comes to size, imperial matters. We''re not anti Europe, but we are pro shopper. Our customers quite clearly live their lives thinking and working in imperial" A spate of mis ordering, by Tesco Home shopping customers pointed up the problem. One customer ordered 3 kg of broccoli rather than 3 lbs, another ordered 9 kg of potatoes rather than just 9 Ibs. The final straw came when one customer ordered 2kgs of prawns rather than the 2Ibs she wanted. New posters and point of sale labels are being rolled out to all 650 Tesco stores. These will headline prices in imperial units. However, to remain legal, all shelve edge labels and labelordered 2kgs of prawns rather than the 2Ibs she wanted. New posters and point of sale labels are being rolled out to all 650 Tesco stores. These will headline prices in imperial units. However, to remain legal, all shelve edge labels and labels on products will carry both metric and imperial unit pricing. "We are in the business of making life easier for shoppers," adds Tim Mason, " right now customers want their purchases pointed up in pounds and ounces." * Imperial measurements will be along side shelf edge labels and on products. Point of sale material will be in imperial only.