On 13 January the Government finally acknowledged the need for a supermarket watchdog. But after two years of delay they still won't take action.
Tesco - a big block to planet-friendly farming - has launched its latest charm offensive. But they won't pull the wool over our eyes. What they don't tell us is that they:
- destroy small businesses and local shops
- force farmers who supply them to cut their prices
- have turned many towns and cities into "Tesco Towns".
After announcing £3bn profits in April 2009, Tesco said aimed to double the floor space of its stores every ten years. At the time Tesco had 1,770 stores in the UK and hoped to add:
- 15 more Tesco 'hypermarkets'
- 10 superstores
- four Metro outlets
- Three Homeplus stores and
- 200 local Express shops.
This would take the number of Tesco stores to around 2,000 by the end of 2009. The chain also owns shops that are not Tesco branded, taking the total to 2,498.
Tesco has just reported a 4.9 per cent rise in its Christmas profits from the same period in 2008, nearly double market projections.
There are currently 20 Tesco stores in Cardiff, two of which have opened in the last six months.
The Competition Commission have recommended a new supermarket competition test for town planning to prevent local manopolies developing.
Changes threatened
However strong lobbying by Tesco is threatening the new supermarket competition test.
Please tell the planning minister to introduce a strong competition test.