No great loss
Sorry but the alternative model was there all across the province in the 70s, and elsewhere all over the world where the British Army happened to be...the Choggie shop.
24/7 service and I mean 24/7 service. You could rouse the fella up on Xmas Day after coming back from patrol. Didn't mind living in **. Braved the troubles driving back and forth for his supplies. If you wanted something that wasn't stocked, no problems. Next shopping run it would be there.
1 guy doing everything - no leave, no sickness, no privileges, no gripes.
Egg banjo, dripping in oil ..no worries. Cup of chai or coffee ..no problem. An ordinary cuppa with that condensed milk out of a can served straight up. None of this fancy skinny skimmed latte frappuchino costing half your pay packet.
Items on tick - no problem - into his little book it went. Hair cutting - yes sir. Tailoring..yep do that as well.
Dangerous hotspots round the world - no problem. He'd often be set up and serving before the spearhead lead elements had come in!
But then Naafi came in and kicked the Choggie out, Terms & Conditions came in, and prices went up.
Hurrah for the Choggie!😜