>From today's Daily Telegraph (Monday):
BRITAIN'S biggest supermarket chain has asked fruit growers to supply
smaller melons after research indicated that housewives subconsciously
compared them to the size of their breasts.
Buyers working for Tesco have been told by a psychologist that the current
preference for smaller busts - epitomised by the model Kate Moss and the
actress Gwyneth Paltrow - was the reason why the traditional big, fleshy
melons were remaining unsold. Now the retail giant has instructed its melon
growers in Spain to produce more "fun-size" galia melons of no more than 1lb
3oz - which equates to a C cup - rather than the full-sized 2lb 2oz "DD cup"
melons which have been slow to sell.
Research has shown that seven out of 10 women questioned agree that breast
size is "the most likely subconscious factor when selecting size of melon".
Fifty per cent of those went further, saying breast size was a conscious
thought when choosing.
In the report, the Tesco psychologist also said that when choosing a melon,
customers liked to feel around the blossom end of the fruit with its
nipple-like scar. The Tesco spokesman said: "Apparently customers believe
the blossom end should be slightly squashy to show ripeness.
Discuss with reference to marginal utility / price and the risk of global
deflation.
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RGS Economics: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/geoff.riley/
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