I am not surprised to read of the downturn in their sales. They have recently expanded their previously excellent store in Finchley Road. It is so vast that the area which covers prepared dishes and fresh meat is invariably deserted - you have to do a "right turn" to get there - so most people just turn left and confine their purchases to the rest of the store. Compared with it's former glory, it is a disappointment. Too much variety and too much walking! I agree about the high prices too.

Georgette Behar, London, England

Waitrose is about quality, Tesco and the others are about volume turnover. I cannot stand going to Tesco etc as you end up in huge queues and faced with a vast choice of products that we just don't need. In Waitrose the choice is carefully selected and they care about customers so you never have to wait much at checkouts. Waitrose also really supports local producers and is making an effort on plastic bags etc. I now see lots of people going in with all sorts of different bags to avoid using new plastic bags. You don't see that at Tesco's.

Pete Smith, Stroud, Gloucestershire

What are you talking about? Waitrose is the best value supermarket out there.

Do a comparison of Waitrose Canary Wharf, Tesco Lewisham, Sainsbury's Greenwich Peninsula, M&S Greenwich, Asda Isle of Dogs.

Game set and match to Waitrose on price, quality and range of products. I've noticed the Waitrose staff tend to me more helpful as well.

James, Tesco Convert, Greenwich

Pop into Lidl's ..Their curry's are half the price and supplied by Noon foods who also supply Waitrose with theirs!

Adrian McCarthy, Stratford Upon Avon,

Tried Sainsbury's, tried Tesco, in my humble opinion Waitrose is by far the best value for money. The food is fresh, the cans and packets undented. I'm an OAP by the way.

Mike, Winchester, UK

I agree with Peter of London. Waitrose is very expensive, although their fresh produce is exceptionally good. They appear to cater on the basis that everyone is having a dinner party every day of the week. They need to look to the basics.
One thing that I find irritating is that they have now started showing tickets on their shelves, showing that certain products are the same price as J. Sainsbury. This doesn't seem like competition to me. It seems more like price rigging.

John, London,

I stopped shopping in Waitrose a year ago, switched to Tescos and saved about £100 per month on my shopping bill without a compromise on quality or choice.

So as people start to face a downturn in their disposable income the canny ones will start to look for better value food.

If Waitrose are going to keep in the game then they have go to slash prices

Peter, London, UK