George Monbiot blogs today in the Guardian on the subject supermarkets and power run out of control (Here). He can be annoyingly smug at times but here he really does have a point.
It’s easy to miss just how serious this problem is until you go abroad to places like New York, Canada or France. NY in particular is a joy of a place to stay because of the number of small shops and eateries within easy distance. I know we like to poke the French – well you would, wouldn’t you – but in places like Montreal – OK, French Canadians, we can poke those too if you like – they’ve actively resisted large chains of all kinds and allowed smaller shops to dominate. It makes for an interesting and exhilarating shopping experience and you really do feel like you’re visiting a different country rather than another displaced Next/Gap/M&S/whatever club of power and world domination.
Chains like Tesco, who are particularly agressive, like to say they create new jobs – they don’t, a new Tesco in your area will ultimately result in fewer jobs once all the local shops downsize or go out of business, which they will. They also like to say they give customers ‘what they want’. I don’t believe that, I get better food from my local high street and often, although many people don’t realise this, at a better price. Check it out, you really do. I also know I can get locally sourced food from my high street – for me nothing to do with ecology or global warming, it just tastes better. The greengrocer in St Marychurch sells food grown in local allotments and gardens, I know this because I sell odds and ends to him myself in season.
Tesco forever seem to be trying to get a foothold for a large store here in St. Marychurch, usually in the old General Accident Building at the foot of Fore Street, just where they can do the most damage. So far they’ve been unsuccessful but they’re persistant, have expensive lawyers and I have a horrible, horrible feeling they’re going to succeed one day.