Why does Tesco now ONLY sell skinless chicken?
Posted by Present_Teacher7966@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 92 comments
The entire range in various branches of Tesco now only sell skinless chicken, that is Thighs, breast, legs, all cuts unless you get one of the small ranges of "premium" range legs
I contacted Tesco and the business response has been that it is driven by consumer demand, but as far as I can tell, there are still many people that want skin on chicken cuts, so they surely are losing customers by a blanket ban.
Is there some other reason? Is the skin being used due to a shortage elsewhere or something?
Yes, I may start using another supermarket more often based on this!
jack_watson97@reddit
They dont. They sell skin on, bone in thighs
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Not sure why people take anecdotal encounters to try to disprove someone else's encounters.
This has been in a number of branches in a number of areas over a period of time now (maybe 2 months or so)
Yes they probably sell them still but to see entire shelves without any has been strange. Not empty shelves, shelves replaced with skinless versions.
electact@reddit
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
My bad. I should have said why do a number of branches in different areas of the country only sell skinless.
Even with the demand thing, those areas do not appear to lead to the reason (I.e mixed demographics across them) and they (Tesco) would still lose some customers who would never buy skinless, it is not like those that want skinless chicken is just me..or is it haha
Fusilero@reddit
I suspect someone has done some cost calculations and felt the loss of shelf space for skin on chickens is less than the benefits?
Whether they're right or not is a different question, but the major supermarkets are pretty good at this kind of stuff.
(It's why clubcard exists)
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Yeah I guess. At least someone believes me. Why would I make this up haha.
Still odd to rule out whatever percent of people it is that Still prefer skin on.
Tesco is not exactly the health conscious go to shop and the ones I have encountered that are doing this are in a range of areas / demographics / general financial status etc.
ZarathustraMorality@reddit
They may prefer skin on, but likely they’ll buy chicken either way. I’d wager a tiny subset, or close to 0, customers will refuse chicken without the skin. I’d guess there’s some cost saving in terms of preparation etc that makes skinless the cheaper option.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
I suspect there is a cost involved in removing the skin, but then a markup for that product plus they then have the skin to sell separately.
A shame as I do like thighs, legs, wings etc with skin on (not entirely sure they had wings, not drums, at all come to think of it. Maybe they did) I dont buy breast as I find it bland. I have bought skinless thigh fillet on a number of occasions, only to make shish kebabs. I guess ill have to check the halal section or something moving forwards if it is or does become a more permanent things.
Wish I could upload the photo as loads just tried to deny what I have seen lol
Fusilero@reddit
Prefer enough to not shop there? That's the critical question.
Skinless chicken has slightly higher profit margins than skin-on chicken, because it's seen as a more premium product, if the cost of catering to that preference is less than the margin then it's easier and more streamlined to only do skinless.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
I think this is the most likely reason.
I was mainly surprised how much of a minority I must be for it to be the case (oddly enough, the Praed street one had 2 other people with the exact same questions about what has happened to all the skin on stuff haha)
I probably wouldnt stop shopping there entirely, as chicken is not my go to / Common part of a meal but it became a bit of an inconvenience simply because it is such a common shop on my travels etc / last minute buy a dinner type thing
YodasGoldfish@reddit
That is exactly what you are doing 😂
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
I am not.
I said various branches in my OP. Edit now to make it clearer that I am aware this may not be all branches.
The person responding was telling me that i was wrong
YodasGoldfish@reddit
You claim in your post title that Tesco ONLY sell skinless chicken.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Check the body of the question.
Reddit was being weird and I missed "various branches" out but the point still stands. There are a load of branches thanet are not
YodasGoldfish@reddit
So your question is really "why do Tesco sell chicken with and without skin ? "
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
No.
The question should be, "why have various branches of tesco stopped selling skin on chicken?"
YodasGoldfish@reddit
Consumer demand.
jack_watson97@reddit
I dont disbelieve your anecdotal encounter. But TESCO as a supermarket havent stopped selling skin on chicken
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Various branches (in the body of the comment. My mistake not putting that in the main question. Reddit was being difficult to ask the question)
MaximumRequirement60@reddit
You could butcher the whole chickens, it is pretty much the most cost effective way of buying it, bar Costco rotisseries....
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Could yes, I was didnt really want a whole chicken though (I travelled quite a lot).. Just felt like a few thighs a few times for an easy fairly quick meal that "sort of" felt healthy compared to my other quick options (aware skin on is not the healthy option, but in comparison to other "quick / cheap meals I sometimes do, it certainly is, with some veg anfld potato or rice etc)
Fizl99@reddit
I get Tesco delivered and still seeing skin on thighs, legs drumsticks, wings
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Pretty clear from this thread that they do still stock them centrally so they could hold enough for online.
They appear to still sell them in many branches too, just very strange to see a number of branches now that have outright stopped it all of a sudden.
j0nnnnn@reddit
That isn't how Online works, they get picked from your local store and delivered. I bet if you went to book and online delivery slot you would be able to purchase these lines
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/285210396
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/285210436
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
So why not stock them in the aisle in that case?
Ill go back in, maybe I have just followed some bizzare postcode shortage of skin on stock, but to see this in so many stores on various dates is.... strange.
j0nnnnn@reddit
You aren't listening to what anyone is telling you - they DO have them in the aisle, unless you are talking about small Tesco Expresses which carry a limited range of everything, and probably only have 3 or4 Chicken products in total .
EVERY Large Extra/Superstore carries skin on thighs/legs, did you try asking a colleague in store when you were in there?
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Yes I did. Hence asking here as well.
The express types up until extremely recently also used to stock them. If anything it was the skinless variety that had the smaller range, so it has been somewhat strange to see such a quick turn around even if that is based on "demand"
j0nnnnn@reddit
Ah it would've been good to specify you meant smaller Tesco stores not large ones, that's why you're getting the level of disagreement you're seeing from everyone..!
BBQ range went into stores about 6 weeks ago, so a bunch of Meat products would have come out to make room for it - given space is so tight in the small Express stores they probably deemed having to types of chicken Thighs less of a necessity than removing say mince or steak completely to make room for the BBQ stuff
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
No. Large ones too. Hence mentioning the Tesco Hatfield. I even asked in that store. There were not even gaps in the shelves to suggest a lorry delivery problem etc.
j0nnnnn@reddit
Hatfield Extra objectively do sell these lines though - I provided the evidence in a previous comment where several hundred customers have purchased them within the last 24 hours.
Looking today, they've sold 7 so far since the store opened about an hour ago. It is an undeniable fact that they sell these products.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
See my other comment. You appear to be fixated on some bizzare mission to say what I have encountered did not happen.
Get some sleep my friend.
j0nnnnn@reddit
Okay, enjoy missing out on your readily available skin on chicken thighs for no reason other than being too proud to listen to facts. 19 of them sold in Hatfield tesco today now by the way.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Get a life.
j0nnnnn@reddit
34 sold in the end today, bet those customers are doing something lovely with their skin on chicken thighs that they definitely can't have got because some bloke on the Internet couldn't find them in the shop
🤨
bigdipper2018@reddit
You’ve literally answered you’re own question. They’ve stopped due to customer demand. It costs them more to provide skin on chicken than to not. Why would they care about a few people like you who want it if it costs them more?
j0nnnnn@reddit
Aye, must cost them a fortune to stick all the skin on to it
bigdipper2018@reddit
It’s because of wastage you pleb. All the stock not selling goes to waste. It costs money.
j0nnnnn@reddit
It was clearly a joke mate, lighten up
That said every large Tesco store in the UK stocks both skin on Drumsticks and Thighs, so you are completely wrong anyway, pleb.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Go to the Hatfield extra, they do not. Many of the metro ones have been similar, praed street and St John's Wood, London. I "think" the other extra one was Kettering, cannot remember as I travel a fair amount.
Not sure why pretty much everyone here is denying what I have encountered.
Reddit I guess. Weird argument mentality
j0nnnnn@reddit
In Hatfield the Thigh fillets with skin on are half way up aisle 27 on the right side. 6 cases of 12 sold there today. Chicken legs with skin and bone are slightly further up the aisle - 5 cases of those sold today.
You're welcome.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Read the body of my text.
Yes some premium ones. Yes a massive bag of legs (or possibly though fillets)
What happened to the "normal" Thighs, legs, drums, wings?
This is not like I have thought I will go onto reddit and ask a completely made up question of experiences that have not happened.
j0nnnnn@reddit
I can read thanks - these are not premium lines, these are Tesco Own label ranges - over 100 people managed to find them in Hatfield Tesco yesterday alone. They are there.
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/285210396
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/285210436
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
This appear to be online?
Check Friday 29th for that store. The other stores have been over a number of weeks. Same thing. 1 massive bag of legs (maybe they were thighs). 1 or w premium range couple of legs, all standard range was skinless
The guy was packing the shelf in that particular store and said they do not stock them (the entire shelf was packed, so not empty spaces where the skin on versions should be)
Shame I cannot seem to upload the photo as by the time this was about the 5th store I took a picture.
Other stores I recall were St John's Wood and Praed St London.
Just been confused why. Have not gone out of my way to make this up lol
j0nnnnn@reddit
Are you talking about small Tesco Expresses which are under 5000 square foot and have a limited range of everything? or proper Superstores
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Both.
Even with the smaller ones, it is genuinely surprising to see it go from majority skin on to skin off.
Ill use skinless thigh fillets for some dishes / kebabs etc for example, but am pretty sure I am not alone in using skin on thighs or legs for a quick mid week roast in the oven type thing.
It very recently was that skinless was in the minority plus more expensive which I guess may be another reason.
j0nnnnn@reddit
Large stores 100% DO sell skinless thighs and legs - I'm confident there isnt a single Tesco Superstore or Extra in the country that doesn't sell skinless Thigh fillets (Source: I work with the Supply Chain team that manage all of this)
Express stores are different, they carry 10 times fewer products than large stores, there is much more limited shelf space so they are far more selective with which products can be ranged
That last bit is just objectively not true - skinless thighs have been the more popular product by a factor of several for years and years
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Thighs specifically yes. I have already said I have used these over the years, mainly for Lebanese shish Taouk.
Cannot be bothered to talk with you anymore because you and various others have a bizarre and unhealthy obsession with trying to disprove what I have encountered on numerous occasions.
Touch some grass mate.
j0nnnnn@reddit
I'm genuinely trying to help you mate - the products ARE there in that store, they just are - just because you haven't managed to see them doesn't mean they aren't.
Your title was hyperbolic and objectively incorrect, you've refused to listen to anyone trying to help or demonstrably show that you're mistaken - if you don't want to take any of that on board then you're evidently a bit of an idiot (Which is clearly the case anyway if you cant see the literal shelf full of Skin on chicken thighs right in front of you)
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
You're not really trying to help.
You've said I must be dumb to not see them (I asked in all the stores I mention)
You've done your best to prove that what happened to me is untrue (and other customers in the store strangely enough, so I cannot be the only one)
You've ignored the fact that I already said there was a couple of premium range yellow skin type chicken legs.
Literally zero normal boxes of legs, thighs etc.
I have bought these randomly for years, they have not been present and the shelves have been replaced with skinless variety.
But ok, go and make another bizzare argument now
bigdipper2018@reddit
This is reddit. We never joke.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
How does it cost them less to take the skin off as part of the process?
bigdipper2018@reddit
Because of wastage. Dead stock costs money.
TicksAndBricks@reddit
Because they sell the ones without skin, they don't sell the ones with it. So they stop stocking them (In that particular store).
I wonder as well whether, perhaps, it takes slightly longer, and I mean fractionally, to cut up the chicken keeping the skin intact and that adds up over the tens, hundreds, millions of chicken thighs they sell. Purely speculation there though.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Maybe but I would assume it would still cost more to remove it.
Saying that, as someone else pointed out, there is a markup on skinless so they probably get a return there, and then could also sell the skin anyway (bags of crispy chicken skin appears to be on the rise or at least I have spotted it more than I used to, so there is another avenue)
mrfatchance@reddit
Skin on thighs. The best.
trevhcs@reddit
Are we still talking about chicken here? Never know with reddit.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
No, fish thighs
trevhcs@reddit
Tesco competing with Waitrose I see. Guess those are under the premium range...not for us commoners then. 😁
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Homer Simpson range 😂
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Yes, my favourite too. At least I am not the only person that still wants skin on as some others have implied 🤣
Although skinless thighs if making kebab / shish taouk
Charlie_Yu@reddit
Never found skin on chicken breasts in any major supermarkets. Would be perfect for pan searing
trevhcs@reddit
They need something even cheaper for the sausages filling. Customer demand is a convenient way to claim they needed to sell skinless only as everyone will just accept it.
That's my theory.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Possibly, I suspect it might be a balance of demand (not worrying about the 10% or whatever that % is of people who want skin on in that postcode area) coupled with being able to split the product and make more with the bi-product elsewhere.
Not really gorlt many solid answers here, mainly just a bunch of people denying what I have encountered and downvoted me
This is is Reddit I guess 😂
trevhcs@reddit
A lot of it is controlled by head office whereby every inch of the space is calculated to how much profit the computer algorithm thinks it'll generate. Even down to which shelf the product is on.
Things are also very regional like for example in Corby you'll find lots of Scottish stuff despite ot being 100s miles from Scotland, and in NW England there's a lot more choice in black pudding. - source: TV prog I watched. No that it helps hugely.
For whatever reason in the area you've been which might even be an entire region, they've decided nobody likes skin on chicken. Of course if you start buying loads of skin on premium chicken, that might skew the deliveries next time and they'll ship more variations there. Admittedly you'll need to want to buy a lot of chicken and might get some funny looks at the checkout. Or could just get it home delivery and be the "weird one" they all talk about at the depot.
Or really boss it, buy so much that you trigger a facebook "national chicken shortage". 🙂
Flaramon@reddit
I work in field marketing.
Yes, your experience is possible. No, it's not happening to all stores - and no, it's not a high-level business decision to stop selling all skinned products.
Each store has a range of products that others stores don't. It's driven by demand, monitored by the club card and points systems. If a store is still selling a product, but not many people are buying it: it will get discontinued at that store. Stores have to place a minimum order for each line item and, if they don't think they can sell all of it before it expires, then there's no point in getting any delivered (waste eats profits).
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TwoPlyDreams@reddit
It removed and use for vegan leather car seats.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Wouldn't suprise me. Maybe with a spec of asbestos.
AneeMel@reddit
wouldn't eat chicken from Tescos if it was the only food i had .
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
TBF it is not my go to, as I tend to prefer different meats / proteins but sometimes i fancy some reasonably bargain thighs etc for am easy mid weeker
AneeMel@reddit
It is where the chicken is sourced from... nasty
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Ah yes. I see. Understood.
j0nnnnn@reddit
This just isn't true - they sell thighs and legs with skin on, anything without the word 'fillet' in will likely have skin and/or bone still
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
It has been in a few branches now though. Yes it may be demand, but I don't believe I am the only person that doesn't really want skinless, so they would be losing custom by not stocking some more. Skin is where the flavour is for some people etc.
Maybe they are reselling the skin alone / as only ingredient in other products/ shortage / demand in specific areas (seems wide, not just one town or city i have seen this now). More profit. Not sure, just found it odd and there is not much other info other than it could be demand
j0nnnnn@reddit
You aren't the only person - as I said they do sell these. What store have you been to? I can look up whether they do indeed sell them or not. Chances are it might be in a slightly different location to the skinless stuff, and may have moved around a couple of months ago when all the BBQ food launched.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Praed street near Edgware road london was one. St John's wood local was another. I think the superstore one was Hatfield. A few other metro type ones. Then some around Midlands as well, so more than just my one local.
They did not have them in a different location in store. One did one giant bag of skin on legs but the rest was all skinless (yes even thighs etc) and then some of the yellow "premium" chicken had skin on.
People have been quite protective/ weird in responses on here, so thankyou for being normal haha
detectivebabylegz@reddit
I shop at Lidl and chicken thighs are really cheap and often sold out, so could be a case of demand outweighs supply.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Maybe. It just seemed odd. At 1st I just thought it was the one branch (Praed street near Edgware road London, so assumed it could be a demand thing for that area) but i have since encountered more in various parts of the country.
The only thing they seem to stock was a massive bag of skin on legs, but 95% of the remaining stock variations were skinless.
detectivebabylegz@reddit
The price markup for skinless from skinned is insane, so maybe if people are happy to buy skinless, they'll keep more on the shelves.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Maybe.
I was thinking (partly from this thread) that maybe they get more profit from skinless, or the same, but then can also sell the skin as stand alone or maybe to suppliers for other products.
detectivebabylegz@reddit
I personally freeze them and use them for chicken stock once I have enough bones.
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Nice!! One of my go toos for throat / flu type times. The gelatine or whatever that is called apparently helps in some way. Either way. Nice.
Neddlings55@reddit
If its just certain branches, then it will be down to demand. If chicken with skin on is a poor seller they wont stock it to reduce wastage.
A quick look online shows they do plenty of skin on options.
They dont have a blanket ban.
How would there be a skin shortage? ALL chickens have skin.
vikingraider47@reddit
I went in the other day for those sausages wrapped in bacon but it turned out there was a blanket ban...
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
🤣 I have your coat ready
TicksAndBricks@reddit
Brilliant!!
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
Yes, I suspect various branches still do sell skin on, just suprised to now see this in a number of branches. They do seem to stock on bag with about 10 legs in but other than that, the entire range was skinless, even in the superstore ones.
Worried-Penalty8744@reddit
Literally last week I bought a pack of skin on cooked breasts for sandwiches and wraps
Present_Teacher7966@reddit (OP)
I have indeed bought chicken with skin on before as well, but over the last couple of months, various branches have had shelves full with skinless, Including both the metro ones and most recently 2 superstore ones.
Unfortunately my picture did not upload, but this has happened whether you believe me or not.
Morris_Alanisette@reddit
It's based on demand at each branch. If they don't sell enough to stop it expiring on the shelves, that store stops receiving it. If you want it stocked again you'll have to ask them to specially order it and the buy it all consistently or get other people to buy it as well.
RAGEWOMBLE-Z@reddit
I got a pack of thighs yesterday and they've got skin.
EasyCheesecake1@reddit
Maybe the chickens have their skins ripped off early so feathers don't end up in the packaging. It wouldn't surprise me.