FoE Campaign against Tesco
Tesco now controls 30% of the grocery market in the UK. Growing evidence indicates that Tesco's success relies on trading practices that are having serious consequences for suppliers, farmers and workers worldwide, local shops and the environment. A recent survey shows almost half of the public (43%) in the UK would oppose a new Tesco store in their area while only a third (33%) would welcome one. The survey contradicts Tesco's claims that the 'silent majority' of people want a new Tesco store in their area. The survey also shows the majority of people (80%) want more independent local shops in their local area - something that is being rapidly eroded by the closure of local shops which cannot compete with the big supermarkets.
The UK's biggest supermarkets are grappling for an ever greater market share. Small independent stores and suppliers, and ultimately consumers, are paying a direct price in the face of unfair competition. In the five years to 2002, 50 specialist stores including butchers, bakers, fishmongers and newsagents closed every week. In May 2005 the IGD revealed the loss of 2,157 unaffiliated independent convenience retailers, compared to only 1,079 the year before. In 2007, the supermarket chain announced over £2.5 billion in profits.
It’s a decision that will affect hundreds of people for many years. A new Tesco will; kill off local diverse shops, make traffic worse and isn’t in keeping with the Victorian buildings of the Oxford Road. Also their central distribution system will increase traffic and make climate change emissions worse at a time when Reading is attempting to reduce its carbon footprint. At the same time we're discussing having more Tescos in Reading the Competition Commission is about to report on their practises. The will probably be a ban on so-called retrospective payments to suppliers – a system by which the latter end up giving the retailers discounts for selling their items – when it unveils its preliminary findings from a probe into the sector.
They will always want more, until eventually they have it all. We need lots of people to help stop them taking over Reading. Start by signing the petition www.ipetitions.com/petition/ReadingAgainstTesco
Every little helps.
2 comments:
"Also their central distribution system will increase traffic and make climate change emissions worse at a time when Reading is attempting to reduce its carbon footprint"
- so untrue .... having people drive to an "out of town" store just for a few bags of groceries is way way worse than a store like Tesco bringing their produce directly into the urban area and using efficient bulk transportation !
Tesco Express means people leave their cars and walk .... how "green" is that ?
And is it fair that those of us who choose not to have a car, like myself (whatever for if you live off Oxford Rd, town / stations a short walk bus ride away ?), or can't afford a car, are penalised through local stores (even the co-op !) charging 50 - 100% more for the same product ?
Tesco Extra at Battle is a godsend as it will halve my walking distance vs the town centre Sainsbury's with my heavy bi-weekly shop.
I know little about the "Express" plan, and agree that would be a step too far .... but most local traders on the Oxford Rd will survive because they provide a speciality, be it Asian, recently Polish ....
Sadly you can't have it both ways .... slam the supermarkets when they build huge stores that you can only access by polluting tin-mobile .... slam them too when they come into the urban locality !
Wouldn't it be nice to be back in the "green" 50's / early 60's when "artisan" shops were just our "local shops", we didn't have cars, and supermarkets were just being invented - and not having a fridge meant you bought things fresh every day (stay at home houswives having nothing better to do !) ????
Sorry but this is the year 2008 .... and all's fair in business short of restrictive / cartel practice.
Laura
Laura, the competition commission is there to stop one company getting to big as it exerts too much influence on the supply chain and limits consumer choice. Unfortunately they are ineffective, which leaves local campaigners to try and persuade planning authorities to do it.
Their central distribution system means even local food will travel across the country before we can get to it. Better still is going to farm shops or growing your own.
Tesco express is in a petrol station, how this is meant to reduce car travel you don't say. There are many small shops as you say, why will a new small tesco make such a difference to you life? Could it be that you believe their advertising, that they are cheaper/better/whatever. Its just not true, look at the prices of more products and compare them yourself, greengrocers are cheaper.
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