Huh?! HEMA is staying open during this lockdown for sausages and cake
HEMA’s sausage really deserves a statue. So incredibly delicious. A friend of mine happened to tell me last weekend that she had eaten two HEMA hot dogs on Saturday (something to do with a hangover), and I immediately understood. Even without the hangover. Those hot dogs and smoked sausages are just intensely delicious and of course you would want to have two in one day. I don’t find that strange at all. But then this lockdown comes along again—and is HEMA essential?
To be completely honest, I don’t think so. But I wasn’t the one giving the speech in the Torentje last night (nor was I the one whistling outside). But it looks like we can simply enjoy a smoked sausage from time to time during this lockdown. And tompouce too, by the way. And the Red Velvet cake. And baby bodysuits. Uh, sorry?
Sausage, cake and baby supplies
These are the three things HEMA is open for. Sausage, cake and baby supplies. And some personal care products. The rest of the departments will be cordoned off or have ribbons hung across them. It’s not completely certain yet, because they are still in talks with the government. As much as I love HEMA, I do understand the criticism it is receiving over this. For example, 1,500 cakes were already due to be delivered today that otherwise could not have been sold. “We are the largest pastry bakery in the Netherlands. It would be strange to close now,” says HEMA.
A slightly weak reason; what about the smaller pastry bakers? And the chocolatiers? The family businesses that also made purchases and are now left holding the bag? In any case, I don’t understand why it would be strange to have to close if you are the biggest in a particular area. A lockdown is a lockdown, so congratulations on excelling at this, but you too have to close.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll definitely get that hot dog
Of course I’ll stop by to get a hot dog, because apparently I’m not that principled about this (and I am hungry). But then just be honest about it: “through this loophole, we can still make some money, so that’s what we’re choosing.” Because that’s obviously the real reason. Not because they are the largest pastry bakery, not because the hot dog and smoked sausage are essential, and not because they suddenly care so deeply about new parents. You can order all those things online anyway, or buy your pacifiers at the supermarket. So dear HEMA, it’s absolutely fine—you also just want to make money wherever you can. And despite the criticism, the majority will surely still stop by for a tompouce. Or a smoked sausage. Or both.
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