Just wondering: I was in Tuscany for two weeks recently and noticed that the COOP stores were constantly out of stock on common items. This was happening in both the large and small stores. This has not been my experience in the past. <BR> <BR>Anyone know why? I'm heading back there soon and would like to find out what is up. Thanks. <BR>

I recently noticed the same thing. There is worker agitation at their distribution centers which is causing the problems you speak of. Unfortunately there is not much competition to the COOP in Tuscany (for political reasons) but hopefully it will end soon.

Thank you for the information. I'd be interested in reading about the political aspects of this store - I've heard a lot of hearsay. Any ideas where I could get some history?

The COOP is incorporated under Italian Co-operative legislation - in other words it is supposed to belong to its "Soci" or members i.e the people who shop there. Basically co-operatives are either no profit or usually low profit and distribute their profits to their members. They generally have a left wing or unionist lean to them and in Italy are very strong in the "red belt" regions which include Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. In Tuscany especially it appears that the COOP has had almost special treatment and the other major hypermarket chains have basically been shut out apart from a very few exceptions. In fact only recently the Region of Tuscany is planning to join a European wide initiative to restrict the expansion of supermarkets on the pretext of saving small shops. It just so happens that such an initiative would entrench the COOP's huge advantage. Is it unreasonable to point out that such large co-operatives have tradionally funded left wing politicians?

ciao ian <BR> <BR>in the valdarno isn't a lot of competition. it's not true for tuscany. you as a person who live here should know that we have Esselunga. the problem with coop from unicoop firenze didn't touched the coop shops under unicoop siena. then we do have the small Margerita stores, Eurospar, Punto verde and last but not least you can allways shop at the different detail shops (macelleria, ortofrutta, latteria). ian, do you live close to figline or to incisa? <BR> <BR>tanti saluti <BR> <BR>christina

Dear Christina <BR>I live in Ireland but frequently come to Tuscany for business (lucky me) and my experience is mostly of around Florence. I agree that there is so competition from Esselunga and others but it is very limited if you compare it with the competition there is between supermarkets around the Milan area. <BR>I still maintain that the COOP group has a stranglehold on business in Tuscany and you will surely have noticed that the Berlusconi government is proposing to limit the tax advantages of those co-operatives where the workers are not really "soci" or members but in effect dependents i.e. where the co-operative is effectively abusing the legislation.

ciao ian <BR> <BR>well, the shit berlusconi politics which starts now..... i'm not a tifosi of him and i just don't know what future will bring us in reality with this guy. a person who goes side by side with georg w. bush......... horrible thinking further..... <BR> <BR>yes, lucky you. but lucky me who lives above figline valdarno the whole year long, at the border of valdarno/chianti classico. <BR> <BR>*giggel and twinkle* <BR> <BR>tanti saluti! <BR> <BR>christina

oh! and i forgot to tell you: my lifepartner and i we are till a long time soci of unicoop firenze. <BR> <BR>christina

All I can say is compare supermarket prices in the north of Italy where there is decent competition and in Tuscany where there is not and the answer is there. <BR>I will pass over your comments about Berlusconi and GWB

ciao ian <BR> <BR>well, you can't pass over the berlusconi politics. it will be something which will happend to all of us living and working in italy. berlusconi isn't a nice guy and the fact that he want to politic via the taxes is just silly. a huge amount of people here don't like him for nothing. he is too "clean" and his nice guy smile is too false. but probably you are payed by him and that's why you want to pass over. <BR> <BR>auguri a te. <BR> <BR>christina

For Kathleen <BR>The replies to my postings can I believe give you an idea as to how I have hit a raw nerve!