PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TOURED THEIR LOCAL WAITROSE THIS MORNING IN A UNIQUELY BIZARRE PHOTO-CALL AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SUPERMARKET CHAIN WAS BAILING OUT HIS STRUGGLING DUCHY ORIGINALS CHARITY BUSINESS VENTURE. THE ROYAL COUPLE MARKED THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE UP-MARKET RETAILER WILL EXCLUSIVELY SELL GOODS PRODUCED BY THE FIRM WITH A SHOPPING TRIP TO THE BELGRAVIA STORE. SIR MICHAEL PEAT, CHARLES' PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, INSISTED THE JOINT VENTURE WAS NOT A CASE OF THE RETAILER 'SAVING' THE PRINCE'S BUSINESS. HE SAID: 'THIS IS ALL TO DO WITH MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. YOU KNOW WAITROSE AREN'T IN SOME WAY BAILING OUT OR RESCUING DUCHY ORIGINALS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT STAYING AS WE ARE, WE'RE FINE AS WE ARE, THEY ARE HELPING US TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.' WAITROSE'S MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK PRICE SAID MILLIONS WILL BE INVESTED INTO DEVELOPING THE DUCHY BRAND. HE SAID: 'DUCHY ORIGINALS' PRODUCTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FIRM FAVORITES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE RANGE INTO THE DEFINITIVE PREMIUM, SUSTAINABLE BRITISH FOOD BRAND.' THE BUSINESS' PROFITS, WHICH ARE DONATED TO THE PRINCE'S CHARITIES FOUNDATION, HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. RECESSION-HIT CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN PUT OFF BY PRICES SUCH AS £6.89 FOR A PACKET OF DUCHY ORIGINALS SHORTBREAD AND £3.49 FOR A JAR OF DUCHY ORIGINALS STRAWBERRY JAM. ANDREW BAKER, DUCHY'S CEO, SAID THAT THE COMPANY HAS NOT MADE A PROFIT IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.
AT THE BELGRAVIA WAITROSE STORE, CLOSE TO THE ROYAL COUPLE'S CLARENCE HOUSE HOME IN CENTRAL LONDON, PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA WERE SHOWN PRODUCE FROM VIRTUALLY ALL THE STORE'S DEPARTMENTS, FROM THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO MEAT, FISH AND BAKED GOODS. THE PRINCE ADDRESSED SENIOR STAFF FROM WAITROSE DURING THE HOUR LONG TOUR, TELLING THEM HE WAS ENORMOUSLY GRATEFUL THAT THEIR COMPANY "HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION TO INVOLVE AND INCLUDE DUCHY ORIGINALS IN THIS WAY." HE SAID IT WAS "A REALLY PROUD MOMENT BECAUSE WAITROSE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BRITISH STORES." THE DUCHESS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A SELECTION OF GOODS, WHICH SHE WAS PLANNING TO TAKE TO A COMMUNITY PROJECT IN SOUTH LONDON. CAMILLA'S PRIVATE SECRETARY GATHERED UP A NUMBER OF DUCHY ORIGINALS GOODS, FROM ORGANIC CHOCOLATE GINGER BISCUITS TO STRAWBERRY PRESERVE, WHICH WILL BE USED TO MAKE AN AFTERNOON TEA FOR CHILDREN SHE WILL MEET. THE ROYAL DID NOT CARRY HER SHOPPING BASKET HERSELF BUT DID PAY FOR THE FOOD AT CHECK-OUT TILL, PASSING THE GOODS TO WORKER STELLA AMADASUN WHO CHATTED WITH THE COUPLE. AT ONE POINT CHARLES JOKED ABOUT THE ITEMS PRODUCED BY HIS COMPANY SAYING: 'IT'S LIKE COALS TO NEWCASTLE.'
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