Dear Glynne,
Why am I not surprised you hid your true identity, why would you make a total . of yourself in a forum and give your real name ? At every show there is always at least one and I suspect at the BBC Good Food Show you may well have been nominated perhaps you should thank your wife for saving your face.
As it happens I know a bit about the processes this type of product goes through and if you were half as smart as you think you are you might know as well.
'Flat bits of Wood !' Let me see now, those flat bits of wood would have started life as sawn timber, unlike many boards on the market that are only air dried timber these are kiln dried for a few weeks, then transported to a workshop where the planks would be sized, planed and cut into board shapes. Sanded to a reasonable finish before being hand finished and coated with a a food safe coating before a final finish and a second coating.
What type of timber we talking about here? British hardwoods, some scarce, or perhaps, Walnut, Elm, Pippy Oak or Burr woods, all becoming extremely sought after and therefore sell at premium prices at the mill.
Do you know how many wood turners, tree surgeons, hobbyists and like attend these shows ? All think they know better all asking questions as to how do you do this or that... Why are you surprised that a question you ask is vaguely parried away perhaps to protect a protected process.
I have seen the boards you are so quick to criticise and I know the joke behind their labels, not only does it tell you what kind of wood the board is may from but it even tells you where the tree grew. A nice touch, in my opinion, because it defines that all their timber comes from guaranteed sustainable sources... The joke ? They learned the trick from a butcher with a stand close to theirs who knew the names of all the pigs in his sausages !
As far as price is concerned, consider this, as well as everything above how about allowing for the cost of attending such shows as the BBC Good Food Show and many others dotted around the country. Add to that travel, accommodation and food all of which have to be taken into account when running a business, something else it appears you know very little about.
So please... the next time you want air your ignorance and bad mouth a decent company at least have the guts to do so under your real name !
take a bow. Having been a retail manager for many years - and in the ranks before that, I can tell you not really knowing what's in front of you considering all he had to do was identify the wood and the possible variety of finishes that may have been used (and if they don't know they should ask the "craftsmen" to make sure they indeed comply with food safe regulations) made both him and the people he represented look pretty poor IMHO. Rather than a snarky "look at the sticker on the back bud" remark, the seller should have taken the opportunity to extol the virtues of the boards knowing full well that at the prices marked, in these times, only an "I saw you coming" customer would stump the cash on the spot.
