Why not as popular in uk?

[joolsmicra]

I have had my thermie 8 months now, and can safely say that it has been worth every penny and has transformed my cooking, as well as given me loads of time back.it puzzles me why isnt popular in th U.K.. It cant just be cost, although that  must be a big consideration, as I know loads of people with top of the range coffee makers, a kitchen aid with all the bits, posh tvs etc
Do people not cook from scratch here as much as in Australia? Is it the advertising? Is it this forum? I would love more people over here to know about it!

[thermoheaven]

well, it seems like the tm was available in the UK longer than it has been here because my friend bought one several years after she saw that her friend had one in the UK; she said she had to wait so long before we had it here, so don't know the answer.
maybe the distributor isn't as active in promoting it - i know the distributor here is always looking for more consultants all the time (probably because consultants just don't stay with the company).
this is a UK forum as far as i know, even though it is mostly frequented my aussies, lol.

[judydawn]

The forum was started by an English man living in Portugal thermoheaven - that is, our MM.

[Katya]

I'm not sure why it hasn't taken off over here.  I must admit that I hadn't heard about Thermomix before being introduced to it by a friend.

Did you watch MasterChef the Professionals?   On last night's final I think all 3 of them had Thermomixes on their benches but I think they are not allowed to promote them/talk about them as it would be seen as advertising.

Up until now I think the model for selling TMX in the UK is different to Australia - there isn't the same compulsion to have a demonstration (and if you have one, it can be one on one rather than a group)  and I guess that is one way that word of the machine spreads.

[JuliaBalbilla]

I think the problem is that people simply haven't heard of them!  I only discovered them through Spanish friends (they are very popular in Spain) and when I mention them to other Brits, I just get a blank stare.  You can ask for a demo in you own home, but unless you know of their existence you are not going to ask for one.  I went to demo at a cookery school, which fortunately was not too far from where I live, but if you look at the list of places where group demos are done, there are not many.

They should be advertised more widely and having them on cookery programmes is one way of getting people curious even though, as Katya said, they are not allowed to actively advertise them.  I am sure you have noticed the sheer volume of Kitchen Aid mixers on TV.  Perhaps there should be the same amount of Thermomixes??

JB

[Winn]

I agree, it isn't advertised. I got mine in june, but only because  a friend told me she had seen one being used on, Come Dine with me (Australian version).  I found a repeat of the show & watched  and got the name Thermomix which I then looked up. In turn, it led to this forum which I looked at for three solid weeks before ordering one.  It was delivered just before I went on my demonstration which was held quite a distance away, only found through sat av.  So really it was all you people on this forum with all the advice, recipes etc which convinced me to order.  So big thanks to everyone. 

[Moo2]

The forum helped me decide too.  It is also my most used place for recipes and most turn out brilliantly thanks to the advice and comments by people.

[achookwoman]

I think life style may have something to do with it.  When in England early this year, I noticed in the Supermarkets that there was a lot more pre prepared meals than we have in Australia.  Even more so in Holland.   Not in France though.

[JuliaBalbilla]

I agree Chookie, our supermarkets are overloaded with them and they are a good idea for when you are in a tearing hurry or for those whose age or health prevent them from cooking (although it would be better for the elderly and infirm to have someone to cook proper meals for them).  However  they are a lifestyle for some people.  I know of several families where one parent does not work yet still feeds their children on ready meals, day-in, day-out.  It is a shocking state of affairs and I wonder how many Thermomixes these families would have been able to afford to buy if they had cooked proper meals rather than wasting their money on ready meals.

Another factor, I think is that cookery lessons in most British schools are dire.  DD spent a year at senior school doing cookery and only made 2 things in that whole year.  She was then home educated for 2 years and we made lots of things, but when she went back to senior school she was in a school year when cookery was not compulsory.  She has got out of the habit of cooking and since September, she has been at a 6th form college over 100 miles from here, living in student housing and living on junk and ready meals. 

Diatribe over 

JB

[Halex]

I think the wide range of ready cooked food might have something to do with it. You can go to marks and spencer and buy an indian feast, chineese banquet and all sorts of goodies, in Aus we do not have the selection of  these pre made feasts. Also ready made food is a lot cheaper in the UK to buy, if we want something really tasty here we would have to purchase from a restaurant as take out.

H

[eddie007]

I lived in the UK until 4 years ago. I had "met" the thermomix in professional kitchens... But never thought it would be somehhing I could afford for my own kitchen... I'm sure it will become huge there, inspite of the massive range of decent ready meals available, once foodies and healthies see them on the cooking shows....

I honestly believe that The recession and current economic climate in the UK wont help people to decide to invest in their long term health ..... Not when a dozen jam donuts costs 99p .... Unless the government promotes good food and healthy eating skills better... And that has to start in schools....   

[JuliaBalbilla]

I have said for years that the government should tax junk food to subsidise healthy food.

JB