Pic: Fedemco

 

With only a handful of shopping days left until Christmas, your host decided to make an ill-advised trip to London’s commercial heart, Oxford Street, at the weekend..

After being forced to circle for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot (free on Sundays) and then conceding defeat and paying over-the-score for a space in a covered garage, I ventured on into the madness that is central London in the run-up to the festive period.

Upmarket department store Selfridges (possibly only second to Harrods in the price stakes) was filled to standing room only, with shoppers apparently hellbent on hoovering up much of what was on display, despite the high-than-average price tags.

This situation was just as apparent in Selfridges’ Foodhall, with festive-themed chocolates, mince pies, bonbons and even elaborate Hansel-and-Gretel themed edible houses being sold in something of a retail frenzy.

In fact, the only part of the Foodhall that offered a modicum of breathing space to the weary shopper was the store’s mini fresh produce department – little more than a display and a couple of chiller cabinets.

But surely both Selfridges and their fresh produce suppliers were missing a trick here?

Mandarins are every bit as much associated in the British psyche with the festive holidays as chocolate, mince pies and all the rest. Could an appropriately (given the clientele) gift pack of mandarins, displayed prominently sell every bit as well to the retailer’s well-heeled clients?

Or how about some of the other seasonal fruits and vegetables that also have the potential to make a nice gift? A Piel de Sapo melon or Fashion watermelon for example? Or how about a beautifully-wrapped tray of some of the more unusual fruits that the store had on offer? Dragon fruit, lychees, passionfruit, to name but a few.

Yes, fresh produce is perishable, but Christmas is a traditional time of overindulgence when eating becomes a national pastime. Isn’t is time we offered our shoppers a more healthy way to indulge?