Tescopoly is coming
The EDP carries an interesting article into the effect Tesco is having in our lives and communities.
It seems in terms of its profits and the customers who flock to its stores, the giant can do no wrong. But for those winners there are losers and it stands accused of ripping the soul out of towns and making its billions on the back of underpaid struggling farmers. Its chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, yesterday denied supermarkets were killing off the high street, as his firm banked profits of £1.09bn.
No longer are our high streets full of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, but huge Tescos where shoppers can get meat, bread and candles under one convenient roof. But Sir Terry claimed Tesco was simply delivering what customers want and in some cases could encourage people into local stores."When a Tesco store opens, shops around it do better rather than worse," he told reporters at a press conference in London. He argued people would come into a town where a Tesco has opened and will then stay and visit the local shops. Sir Terry also went so far as to claim there was evidence to suggest the diet of people in the local community "dramatically improves" when a Tesco Express opens.
The article goes on to look at the impact on Stalham. Where once the town boasted a baker, fishmonger and greengrocer alongside the still-existing hardware store, butcher and general shop, those have now been replaced by estate agents and takeaways. Nigel Dowdney, owner of the Stalham Shopper said "In ten years' time if supermarkets are allowed to have completely taken over, the population of this country will start to regret that it was allowed to happen, and it will be much too late by then."
It seems in terms of its profits and the customers who flock to its stores, the giant can do no wrong. But for those winners there are losers and it stands accused of ripping the soul out of towns and making its billions on the back of underpaid struggling farmers. Its chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, yesterday denied supermarkets were killing off the high street, as his firm banked profits of £1.09bn.
No longer are our high streets full of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, but huge Tescos where shoppers can get meat, bread and candles under one convenient roof. But Sir Terry claimed Tesco was simply delivering what customers want and in some cases could encourage people into local stores."When a Tesco store opens, shops around it do better rather than worse," he told reporters at a press conference in London. He argued people would come into a town where a Tesco has opened and will then stay and visit the local shops. Sir Terry also went so far as to claim there was evidence to suggest the diet of people in the local community "dramatically improves" when a Tesco Express opens.
The article goes on to look at the impact on Stalham. Where once the town boasted a baker, fishmonger and greengrocer alongside the still-existing hardware store, butcher and general shop, those have now been replaced by estate agents and takeaways. Nigel Dowdney, owner of the Stalham Shopper said "In ten years' time if supermarkets are allowed to have completely taken over, the population of this country will start to regret that it was allowed to happen, and it will be much too late by then."
posted by tescno at
10:27 am
