Farewell to the good, hello to the bad

SO, farewell to the CO-OP. Another director resigns.

Once a true and decent groceries store company they became reduced to competition in the villages with local independents at similar prices.

They were never able to compete with the big four. And Aldi and Lidl with better prices also have stores near them.

Their ideals are and were good but some of their marketing methods do not hold water anymore plus people can get out of the villages to bigger and cheaper supermarkets.

Then unfortunately, Tesco, the most aggressive, also started small store with local prices and have tried to get rid off all independent local competition in villages where they have bribed or cajoled the councils, which is not hard to do in most cases. I have not shopped at a Tesco for over eight years because of this.

And now we have a Behemoth coming right on the main road in Rotherham. From newsagents to butchers, half the town centre will disappear.

The small Asda and Farm Foods at Parkgate is unlikely to survive either. Morrison will be OK because if you shop there you probably still will.

Aldi and Lidl are a different ball game and they are taking business from all the others anyway but in general never affected local butchers or bakers that much and in this country did not really try. If you go to Spain  Lidl have a butchery and proper bakery on site.

Up until about two weeks ago I did not even know where the old Tesco was. And do not care. There was enough decent supermarkets already.

There is an Asda about one and a half miles from me and another about four miles away and an Aldi and Lidl near me. Along with a Morrison, that will do me fine.

Martin Fletcher, Flanders Court, Thorpe Hesley