Next Episode of The 1980s Supermarket is
unknown.
Hot on the heels of the The 1970s Supermarket, embark on a thrilling voyage back in time to the vibrant aisles of Britain's 1980s supermarkets, where the battle for retail supremacy was as intense as the flavours on the shelves. This is a tale of not just expansion, but a cultural shift that forever changed the British palate and the very way we shop. The 1980s Supermarket peels back the nostalgic wrapper to reveal the seismic changes that turned grocery shopping into a retail revolution.This is an immersive experience that will stir the senses and the memories. Tighten your grip on your trolley - we're about to take you through the sliding doors into a world where every turn down the aisle is a trip down memory lane, and every product on the shelf has a story. Welcome to the golden age of grocery.As we venture into the past, we'll unveil how titanic brands such as Tesco and Iceland reshaped the retail landscape, eclipsing small-town favourites with a mix of strategic prowess and relentless efficiency. Witness the rise of Sainsbury's epic Savacentres and the birth of the BOGOF era, where the mantra was "bigger is better" and convenience was king.But this journey is about more than the rise of the supermarkets; it's about the food that defined a decade. We'll explore the phenomenon of Potato Waffles, whose catchy jingles still echo in our ears, and see first-hand the science that keeps them perfectly crisp, courtesy of Dr Chris Clarke in the lab. It's a story peppered with culinary icons, from the advent of pre-packed sandwiches, which sprang from the surplus of a Marks and Spencer in-store café, to the luxurious slices of Viennetta that graced dinner tables across the country.
A nostalgic trip back to the 1980s, where it was dog eat dog for Britain's supermarkets, with big brands devouring smaller chains. Dr Chris Clarke discovers the secret of how potato waffles keep their shape. A Marks and Spencer product developer reveals how in 1980, she started selling off un-eaten ready-made sandwiches from an in-store café to shoppers in the aisles.
In the era of leg warmers, we were infatuated with diets and exercise. We reveal how supermarkets launched diet-ready meals, and we look at 80s fad diets. Plus, a home interior revolution!
This time it's the late 80s and it's a tale of two shopping baskets - the yuppies are splashing the cash on high-end food and hard-up millions are buying budget basics.
We tell the story of how ice cream giant Walls catered for any budget when they launched their cheap but sophisticated ice cream dessert Viennetta. And food scientist Dr Chris Clarke reveals the magic behind Ice Magic – the mysterious chocolate source that turned to a solid as soon as it touched your ice cream.
We uncover the plethora of posh products that hit the supermarket shelves in the late 80s, including Chardonnay and sundried tomatoes. And TV chef Rustie Lee shows us what can be done with them when she whips up a treat in the kitchen.
Budget Britain of the 80s goes under the microscope when we revisit value convenience range Happy Shopper and discover the famous name they employed in their advertisement to help them take on the supermarket big boys.
We reveal how the superstores started selling the latest must-have gadgets – from Sony Walkmans and VHS players to Casio watches and ZX Spectrums. We then let Rustie loose on two other iconic gadgets from the 80s – a Breville toasted sandwich maker and a SodaStream, as she rustles up a tuna crunch melt and a cola ice cream float.
We tell the story of Britain went crackers for a cuppa as coffee outsold tea for the first time in our supermarkets. Our experts reminisce over the iconic Nescafé Gold Blend adverts and Dr Chris reveals how instant freeze-dried coffee is made.
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
Please try again later or contact us.