MP Talks Shop: Supermarket Dominance "Crushing Smaller Stores"
18 Jul 2006
Local MP Austin Mitchell showed his support for independent retailing when he popped into Ramsden’s Superstore on Cleethorpes Road in Grimsby. The visit was organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and offered Dudley Ramsden and his managerial team the opportunity to raise key issues about the future of independents in a market dominated by the supermarkets.
This is the latest store visit as part of an ongoing programme by ACS to promote grass roots lobbying by local retailers.
Mr Mitchell was able to see and hear first hand how Ramsden’s is part of the local community in Grimsby. He was also able to hear about the issues that independent retailers are concerned about for the future of the grocery market.
Mr Mitchell said: “I believe in competition. I think we all do. But I worry when competition becomes market dominance by one or more of the big four supermarket chains because dominance leads to the crushing of competition from smaller stores, corner shops, newsagents and tobacconists. It always lays the consumer open to exploitation.
“It’s time in my view that we did three things. First, strengthen the invigilation of the Office of Fair Trading. Secondly, require the publication of all the terms, contracts and deals between the big four and their suppliers, whether food manufacturers or farmers, as they do in the USA so that the concessions they’ve got from their muscle in the market are made clear. Thirdly, require planning committees to take into account the turnover in local markets of any of the big four applying for new stores of any size.
“Smaller stores have had a tough time. It’s time we levelled the shopping field.”
Mr Ramsden said: “We are delighted that Mr Mitchell was able to visit us at Ramsdens. It was important to us to make sure he understood not only what we currently provide to the people of Grimsby, but how important it is that Government makes sure that businesses like ours can be around for many years to come.
“Ramsdens has grown as a business over many years to the business we are today. The issues we talked to Mr Mitchell about are the growing power of supermarkets and how this has affected independent retailing. We believe he now understands this issue far better as a result of our discussions.”
Shane Brennan, from the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “There is no substitute for an MP meeting a retailer in their store to make them understand the issues that are vitally important to local retailers. We are delighted that Mr Mitchell took the time to come and speak with Ramsden’s and hope that he will take the issues he has learnt about back to Westminster.”
This is the latest store visit as part of an ongoing programme by ACS to promote grass roots lobbying by local retailers.
Mr Mitchell was able to see and hear first hand how Ramsden’s is part of the local community in Grimsby. He was also able to hear about the issues that independent retailers are concerned about for the future of the grocery market.
Mr Mitchell said: “I believe in competition. I think we all do. But I worry when competition becomes market dominance by one or more of the big four supermarket chains because dominance leads to the crushing of competition from smaller stores, corner shops, newsagents and tobacconists. It always lays the consumer open to exploitation.
“It’s time in my view that we did three things. First, strengthen the invigilation of the Office of Fair Trading. Secondly, require the publication of all the terms, contracts and deals between the big four and their suppliers, whether food manufacturers or farmers, as they do in the USA so that the concessions they’ve got from their muscle in the market are made clear. Thirdly, require planning committees to take into account the turnover in local markets of any of the big four applying for new stores of any size.
“Smaller stores have had a tough time. It’s time we levelled the shopping field.”
Mr Ramsden said: “We are delighted that Mr Mitchell was able to visit us at Ramsdens. It was important to us to make sure he understood not only what we currently provide to the people of Grimsby, but how important it is that Government makes sure that businesses like ours can be around for many years to come.
“Ramsdens has grown as a business over many years to the business we are today. The issues we talked to Mr Mitchell about are the growing power of supermarkets and how this has affected independent retailing. We believe he now understands this issue far better as a result of our discussions.”
Shane Brennan, from the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “There is no substitute for an MP meeting a retailer in their store to make them understand the issues that are vitally important to local retailers. We are delighted that Mr Mitchell took the time to come and speak with Ramsden’s and hope that he will take the issues he has learnt about back to Westminster.”