Supermarket Morrisons is scrapping the misting machinery which is installed in up to 300 of its stores.
First introduced in 2010 by outgoing chief executive Dalton Philips, the devices were seen by some as an attempt by the retailer to move upmarket. Others saw them as a way for the store to underline its traditional strength in fresh produce. Since their introduction by Morrisons the machines have been introduced by other retailers including Tesco.
According to news sources, store managers have been told to dismantle the machinery, which divided opinion among the industry as to their usefulness. Board member Roger Owen told the Daily Mail, “Roger Owen, a former long-serving main board director, has been lobbying the company’s chairman, Andy Higginson, to get rid of the machines.
‘You don’t need misting. It is a waste of money, a waste of time and it does carry a risk unless you spend a significant amount on maintenance. I said one of the first things Andy Higginson should do is take it out, which he obviously has done and good on him.”
A spokesman for Morrisons said, “This move is about going back to basics, using simpler refrigeration techniques and Morrisons traditional strengths in fresh food management, to ensure that our vegetables stay fresh.”