A Tesco in every postcode – what’s the problem?

In Dartford, Tesco has been waging war against the population for years, as it is determined to open a store in the centre of town, despite a poll showing most of the people being against it. Tens of small businesses have been closed as the council compulsorily purchased them to sell more land to Tesco’s agents and the town now looks like a wasteland, so that people are keen to see anything done to improve the situation. There seems to be limitless funds for Tesco to fight on while councils do not have the funds (or will) to resist, but where is the loyalty to the business owning residents who have been paying the council tax for years?

Tesco recently lost its planning proposal to replace its existing local supermarket in my area with a huge superstore, but only after after concerted and sustained local oppoosition by the council, local traders and residents. Tesco’s response has been to announce that it will return with different plans but for a similar sized development, in spite of entrenched local opposition, as they wish to give us (as they put it) the shopping experience our area “deserves.” There is already a huge Asda store only 2 miles away. Tesco are totally uninterested in what their customers want – they are only interested in trying to obtain a monopoly. I admit I frequently shop there (it’s convenient), but I find that the choice of produce and certainly the quality is inferior compared to what it used to be. I believe this has nothing to do with the size of the store, which is large and has already been extended once, but has everything to do with Tesco’s buying and retail strategy. If Tesco do return with plans for a giant store, I for one will boycott them, as I believe will many local residents. Tesco is too big, too powerful and, basically, too greedy.

Tesco have killed off the town where I live, the center is now mainly charity shops. Their produce and bread is below the standard of other supermarkets, at the end of the day you get what you pay for. After 8.00pm you have to use the self service tills as all the staffed tills close. Once they rule the world, you will have to dance to their tune, to some extent you do already and when they push up their prices their will be nowhere else to go. As for creating jobs, they are putting local shopkeepers out of work, job seekers at Tesco will find they have to work unsocial hours for minimum pay.

It is up to consumers, as a shaerholder I welcome the total monopoly of Tesco the shopper is there to be plucked. I must admit it is an 8 miles to town but Tesco is only 10 minutes away and it is free parking.

Tesco can afford to open stores that make a loss. Here on Mill Road in Cambridge we have a Tesco Express (against the wishes of the majority) which is more expensive than the Co-op a few doors down. The Co-op has seen no real change as a result of Tesco’s arrival, and is always busy. By contrast the Tesco store seldom has more than 6 people in it at any one time. But there it is, taking up space, and tempting even more chains into a street that used to be full of locally owned and run shops. We are now to get a Sainsburys Local, another expensive so called ‘local’ shop owned by a chain. No on wants this either. Chain shops lead to rent rises which force out local shop owners. Worse, they attract chain eateries and cafes which drive out local business all over again. Out street is in danger of becoming just another clone street full of people who don’t really care about the area. The Co-op was really the only supermarket we needed. It is cheaper than both Tesco Express (and Sainsburys Local), which in turn are more expensive than their main stores. And that, along with the billions of pounds in tax that Tesco avoid paying, is why is dislike them: they lead people to believe that their so called local stores are cheap. They are not.

I have seen the demise of an old market town I was born in over the years due to bad planning rent/rate rises and council policies.
Tesco and other supermarkets have only taken advantage of weak or bad politicians and an indifferent general public attitude.
I agree with the fact the supermarkets take more jobs and money out from an area than it puts in. I think they impoverishes an area. Most of the local shop keepers lived whithin a couple of miles of their businesses and bought from local producers or the local markets.
Big supermarkets destroy local communities.
The common agricultural policy after the war set in the rot. The drive to provide cheap food and the way it was funded meant the demise of small family farms and local markets.
It played into the hands of the bigger consortiums and centralisation.
Tesco is now playing the sports card working with the big sports clubs wanting to build new stadiums on green field sites.with a tesco next door oiling the wheels. Examples are St. Helens rugby club and Everton football club.
I also think the majority of people working for the supermarkets don’t enjoy their sterile working enviroment.
I hate shopping in Tesco, I reluctantly shop in other supermarkets, (not much choice now).
I will never work in one!

It’s not just a case of ordinary shopping st Tesco – they are striving for dominance in what looks like every other area too – banking, insurance, telecoms to name a few! If they go on like this they’ll rename this nation Tescoland! I resent their squeezing of local shopping centres, fleecing struggling producers, and their devious ways of getting round local opposition by acquiring sites through third parties and completely ignoring the wishes of local people. The only times I shop in Tesco is when there is no way to get what I need in another shop – preferably a local shopkeeper (while they still exist).

It may now be too late. Tesco seems to be more powerful than any local authority. It may become too powerful for central government, unless there is some new legislation to stop it.

The supermarket is here to stay, but Tesco is far too powerful and all embracing. Having said that – Ludlow may be an example of how a town can live with Tesco. Shepton Mallet is an example of how a town will die if Tesco has a free hand.

I HATE Tesco, they are gobbling up the world and its commerce!! I Love the CO-OP wouldn’t shop anywhere else

I hear so many people decrying Tesco but saying they shop there anyway – hypocritical or what?! I had an unpleasant experience with Tesco a year ago – they piled the shelves too high and product fell on me and broke my very expensive glasses. After 11 weeks of trying to get any kind of joined-up thinking from the “customer services” – they refused my claim for a measley and accurate £250. Their attitude was so arrogant I made up my mind there and then that I would NEVER set foot in a Tesco store again. I have put my money where my mouth is so come on all you hypocrites – if you don’t like Tesco – DON’T SHOP THERE! It’s easy! If we all used our feet, Tesco would very soon have a problem and maybe, just maybe stop being the arrogant, aggressive and de-sensitised market force that they have become. And would those high street shops thank us! Just do it, I did.

I think that Tesco are simply the most successful in a very competitive environment. It is to be hoped that other supermarket companies continue to compete effectively to the eventual benefit of the consumer. It is also to be hoped that our planners have the long term and local issues under control. However on this last point I am less confident.