| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| jema |
if tescos want to Bill Hugh for £86,000?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7442601.stmMaybe next year Hugh? |
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| JB |
Much as it pains me to say it. In this case I'd agree with Tesco, they have rules for submitting resolutions and HFW hasn't followed them for submitting a resolution to this year's AGM. |
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| Jonnyboy |
Tesco are in a no win situation here. | ||||
| RichardW |
Funny how they got their paper work out early this year when it was two weeks late last year.
Justme |
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| sean |
Or, funny that Hugh and his people didn't bother to read the rules on submitting motions so were late with this one and got some extra publicity. | ||||
| Jonnyboy |
Well, being late last year can't be held against them for this year.
Did it go out early this year or on time? |
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| Rob R |
Fair play to the man- he's stumping up 30k himself:
http://www.chickenout.tv/tesco-checkout-challenge.html |
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| RichardW |
Early, well ok before the dead line. | ||||
| Treacodactyl |
I would have thought it would be in the directors interest to let the share holders decide, it would get them off the hook. But they need to look after their interests so if Hugh missed the deadline either wait for the next one or pay the extra mail-shot costs. | ||||
| Jonnyboy |
Sorry, I'm still confused. Did HFW miss a published deadline for submission of resolutions? Or did tesco change the deadline or ignore it? |
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| RichardW |
Tescos sent out the paperwork before the dead line for notifications for AGM's. Hugh was late for the dead line with Tescos to get stuff into the paper work.
Justme |
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| Jonnyboy |
So they sent it out before the deadline, but he sent his stuff in after?
I assume if he had sent it in before they would have to send it on at their cost? EDIT: Am I being thick here? |
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| jema |
I assume Tescos have every right to send stuff out before legal deadlines, and that basically Hugh missed the boat on something his office should have been on the ball on. | ||||
| Jamanda |
Maybe, but £86000 seems a heck of a lot of money to produce and post some documents. |
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| Jonnyboy |
269,000 documents. 
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| jema |
That does seem about the cost of a stamp and an envelope, so cannot pin that one on Tescos. | ||||
| Jonnyboy |
I assume there will be return forms which need to be processed as well. Given the scale I agree that it isn't an unreasonable sum. |
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| Jamanda |
Faiy nuff |
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| Brownbear |
According to an email I just got, he's organising a charity auction. Seems only interested in bids from high-rollers rather than a whip-round from povs like me. Not sure how good a strategy that is - ask Tony Blair.
I can see why Tesco didn't want to pay for the mailshot - that sum must amount to almost ten minutes worth of profits. |
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| Barefoot Andrew |
And said newsletter also mentions simple donations. Anyone chipping in?
A. |
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| Brownbear |
So it does - buried in the small print. I'll chip in, but hope he admits to being a nork for missing the date. |
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| boisdevie1 |
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/tesco-nails-chicken-to-river-cottage-door-200806091007/ | ||||
| jema |
It strikes me that this is the sort of campaign that is long term.
The same issues can be raised next year, and in the mean time £86,000 could be put to a lot better use. |
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| cab |
Said admission is an absolute necessity before I'll donate. |
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| Jonnyboy |
What BB said, plus It would have been nicer if the common man could have had a chance of winning something for his efforts rather than just the rich. Poor people, just donate, rich people, get something back for your cash. 
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| JB |
Sorry I wouldn't donate. 86K can be far better spent, he's got the publicity even without the money, it is his fault for missing the deadline, even if the motion was in time there's no guarantee it would be accepted (in fact I suspect it wouldn't). the campaign is long term and while it should be done sooner rather than later it doesn't need to be. So on the whole I think Hugh got this wrong and while I support his principle I'm not going to pay for his mistake. |
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| cab |
I can entirely see where you're coming from there, and I do believe that he has either seriously misjudged a publicity stunt or just made a dumb error. Either way, the question then becomes whether the greater target of the campaign is worth supporting; I think it is, and I'd give a couple of quid to that on the proviso that there is some acknowledgement that he's messed up. |
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| Rob R |
Yes. |
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| Nick |
Interesting to see what happens if they raise, say, 50k.
However, if he does pay up, Tesco's will have to include it, or risk a HUGE loss of face. There's a cynic in me that suggests he didn't miss any deadline by accident. We're talking about it, and we wouldn't have been if it was done on time. |
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| tahir |
Dunno, in my dealings with HFW it became clear to me quite early on that he takes on a lot more than he can sensibly handle, this means that things don't go as smoothly as they could. When I was talking to him last year he was finishing off the Fish series (and book), doing the Chicken out campaign, opening the shop, and if we'd succeeded he'd have been a trustee on our thing too.
I think he has to strike while the iron is hot, I'll be contributing. |
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| Jonnyboy |
Thing is , based on the first paragraph what comfort do we have that he ain't juggling this with another series and two more books? Will he forget to turn up to the AGM? 
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| tahir |
That's the risk we take when we put our trust in anyone. If you asked me if I trust Hugh I'd say yes, ditto for "Is his heart in the right place". Will this raise his profile? Yup, but so would a tie up with one of the major supermarjets (which he's been offered in the past) | ||||
| Jon |
at risk of repeating this on a couple of forums, if you have a look at yesterdays Independent news article on this, they report Hugh didn't miss the deadline.
"The Channel 4 presenter is putting a resolution to Tesco's AGM that would force it to adopt RSPCA standards or renounce its claim to allow its birds a life free of pain. The motion was tabled before a final deadline, but Tesco has demanded he pay £86,888 for posting it separately to its 235,000 shareholders. It has given Fearnley-Whittingstall until noon on Wednesday to find the money.................. After Tesco declined to be filmed on camera for his new series, the River Cottage presenter came up with the idea of demanding a change in its policy at its AGM. He duly obtained the statutory support of 100 shareholders and tabled the resolution before the final deadline on 16 May. But Tesco – which seems to have got wind of the move – had sent off its AGM papers to shareholders at least a day before. The supermarket says that it needed to ensure shareholders received all the publicity material in time for the meeting. Fearnley-Whittingstall says the previous year Tesco sent out its AGM pack two weeks after the deadline." Star chef brings Tesco's chickens home to roost |
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| Brownbear |
I think he does a lot for things I care about, though I do find his attitude a bit creepy at times. "Look, poor people - do what I say and you might be mistaken for middle class, in a poor light." |
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| Barefoot Andrew |
Just chipped in a tenner. As Tahir says, strike whilst the proverbial iron is hot; as Nick says, it'll be interesting to see what happens if he actually raises the cash.
A. |
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| Rob R |
 I've never heard him say that.
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| vegplot |
He's already generated negative PR for Tesco. My feeling is that they'll come to some sort of agreement to negate any further damage before the issue comes to a head. |
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| hamster |
He raised the £50,000.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/chef-hits-cash-target-to-take-on-tesco-over-chicken-welfare-844226.html |
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| Rob R |
Well done Hugh, I wonder if Tesco will end up giving it to charity?
Taken from a Feb 08 press release CHICKEN TO SUIT EVERY CUSTOMER
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| bernie-woman |
Excellent
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| Jonnyboy |
Fair play. I didn't think he'd do it. So I stand corrected. | ||||
| Stacey |
I *heart* Hugh 
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