Tescophobia Watch

Harrowgate Gets Tesco: It’ll Just Be Like Everywhere Else Wails Janet Street Porter

profreedan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:20:33 +0000

Apparently Harrowgate was the last town to not have Tesco. Now they are finally getting one an Janet Street Porter, writing in yesterday’s Indpendent complains that now the wealthy middle class area will just be like everywhere else…

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/janet-street-porter/editoratlarge-harrogates-fall-to-tesco-is-yet-another-victory-for-the-bland-2352667.html

Yes now Harrowgate will just be like everywhere else because it’s got a Tesco!

By “everywhere else” Janet means like those common areas.

Oh how terrible it is that those well off people living in a well off area will have a Tesco “forced” upon them and have to put up with having a store where the “common” people shop!

Shopkeepers Urge Tesco Express Boycot In Whetstone

profreedan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:53:33 +0000

The campaign by local shopkeepers in Oakliegh Road, North London to stop a Tesco Express opening near-by has failed and it’s doors opened to shoppers last month.

Whetstone shopkeepers urge residents to boycott new Tesco store in Oakleigh Road North

4:50pm Friday 18th February 2011

By Alex Hayes »

ANGRY shopkeepers vented their frustrations by urging people to boycott a new branch of Tesco which opened its doors in Oakleigh this morning.

Small traders pleaded with the supermarket giant not to open the Express store in the former Rising Sun pub in Oakleigh Road North, but to no avail.

Now they fear the new shop, which was already attracting considerable interest from the local community this morning, will detract from their trade.

Ajit Shah, whose pharmacy is across the road, said around 20 people stood outside to protest as the store was formally opened at 10am.

He told the Times Series: “I was pleased with the turnout and a number of people said they don’t think Tesco should have opened here and they would not shop there.

“But it’s going to put some shops down here out of business. It will take all the passing trade and compete directly with the local traders.

“They say they are creating lots of jobs, but it will cost even more. A lot of families will be affected by this.”

Mr Shah, who has been in the shop for 25 years, warned alterations to the pavement and road layout by the supermarket giant could lead to someone being run down.

He added: “This road has been dangerous for years, but nothing has been done and now councillors have ignored our concerns.

“This morning there was a large lorry making a delivery which had to mount the pavement to get out of the access road. What happens if there are children or an old person there who can’t get out of the way?”

A campaign launched by the traders, who this morning handed out flyers saying “Tesco will kill us. Every little hurts” were backed by Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers.

However, councillors at a recent planning meeting gave permission for alterations such as a new cashpoint and neon signs.

But the members also dismissed concerns over an increase in traffic to the site, saying they would look at it again if there is evidence of a large rise in the area because of the shop.

The whole campaign was about small local shop owners not wanting to lose profit to Tesco.

But as usual such a campaign was presented under the guise of wanting to preserve the community and concern for local residents and children.

There was a petition being run against the opening of this Tesco Express which apparently many local residents had signed. It will be interesting to see just how many of those who signed this petition actively boycot the store and refuse to shop there and stick to the small local shops.

The article says that around 20 people stod outside to protest on the morning of the opening. That’s 20 people out of a local resident population of much much more!

The Oakleigh Road local shop keepers maintaned that the majority of local residents didn’t want a Tesco Express in their area.

But they clearly suspected that once the store opened the majority of local residents would stop shopping in their small stores and go to Tesco instead. Which is why they were attempting to stop the store opening in the first place.

To stop local residents going there instead of their shops!

Tesco Shoppers Are Vegetables

profreedan — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:55:09 +0000

This is an old opinion piece writen by the mouth ”socialist” comedian Mark Steele from 2007. But it preety much sums up what the whole anti-Tesco/supermarket campaign is about…

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-there-will-be-a-tesco-store-in-your-bedroom-next-433427.html

So Tesco shoppers are in “vegeative state” are they? And of course they need good liberal crusaders like Mark Steel to awaken them from their “trance” by getting them to shop in small local shops and farmers markets.

This kind of blatent snobbery from Mark Steel is preety unsuprising. His recent People’s Manifesto has given pricelsss gems of snootyness. One contributor recomending cutting the benefits of unemployed people who have Sky TV for “sucking on the teet” of Rupert Murdoch.

How socialist eh?

New Supermarket Watchdog Set Up

profreedan — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:03:51 +0000

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299816/Now-watchdog-help-curb-antics-bully-supermarkets.html

No word from the enviornmentalist/liberal anti-supermarket lobby yet but no doubt they’ll be winging that whatever this new watchdog does doesn’t “go far enough”.

Of course not because unless it rules that all supermarkets are evil and should be shut down and replaced with middle class farmers markets they’ll never be happy!

Green Spite As Sir Terry Announces He’s To Quit Tesco

profreedan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:49:51 +0000

Tesco chief to leave chain

8 June 2010

Commenting on the announcement today that Tesco’s leader Sir Terry Leahy is to leave the supermarket chain next year, Friends of the Earth’s Helen Rimmer said:

”Sir Terry Leahy may have helped line the pockets of Tesco’s shareholders, but British farmers, communities and the environment have all suffered at the hands of the chain’s aggressive expansion.

“Tesco now controls a third of the market share – its stores are popping up on virtually every street corner, putting local firms out of business and taking choice away from shoppers.

“Bullying farmers into producing more for less stops them from investing in greener farming practices and forces them to rely on imports of cheap animal feed grown in South America at the expense of people and rainforests.

“If the new Government is serious about supporting the economy through these tricky times it must introduce tough planning laws and a new watchdog to reign in the major supermarkets – and allow small businesses, farmers and communities to flourish.”

Such spite from upper middle class greenies towards a working class bloke who made it up the ladder.

Of course liberal lefties hate working class people who get rich cos they only ever want to see them as poor victims so they can feel sorry for them and think they are doing their bit for the “proles”.

Greens Outraged As Tesco Announced Record Profits

profreedan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:17:42 +0000

Tesco announces record annual profits

20 April 2010

Commenting on record annual profits for Tesco announced today (Tuesday 20 April 2010), Friends of the Earth’s food campaigner Helen Rimmer said:

“It’s not surprising that Tesco’s profits are so high – the chain controls a third of the UK grocery market and its aggressive expansion is having a disastrous effect both on local communities and the environment.

“Supermarkets like Tesco are lining their pockets while bullying farmers into producing more for less – forcing them to import cheap animal feed from South America where companies growing soy are trashing rainforests and habitats.

“The fightback against the Tesco takeover is building, with more than 300 community campaigns against new Tesco stores around the country.

“The next Government must do more to support small retailers and introduce new rules to reign in the bully-boy tactics of the major supermarkets and provide a fairer deal for farmers and consumers alike.”

Notes to Editors

1. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to introduce stronger national and local planning policy to curb supermarket dominance and out-of-town development and instead support independent shops, local economies and a broader choice of retail for communities. The green campaigning charity says an independent Ombudsman with teeth is needed to proactively investigate supermarkets’ buying practices, protect suppliers’ anonymity, act on complaints from primary producers and third parties, and impose fines and name and shame supermarkets found to be breaking the Code of Practice.

2. Friends of the Earth’s Food Chain Campaign is calling on the Government to get behind planet-friendly farming www.fixthefoodchain.com

Yes it’s bloody disgusting that Tesco is making so much money! Couldn’t have anything to do with the fact the millions of people do their shopping their every week could it? Nah!

And even if it does those millions of people don’t shop at Tesco because they want to but because they have been brainwashed into it when they would rather shop at small local shops and expensive farmers markets!

“Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to introduce stronger national and local planning policy to curb supermarket dominance and out-of-town development and instead support independent shops, local economies and a broader choice of retail for communities.”

Friends Of The Earth is calling on the government to introudce legislation to stop supermarkets from building so that people cannot do their shopping in them and can only shop in small local shops.

Broader choice of retail for consumers….

But that should not include the choice to shop in supermarkets!

Yep!

Tesco Banned In Sherringham…Greenies Celebrate

profreedan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:56:44 +0000

Tesco store rejected in Sheringham

4 March 2010

The decision today (Thursday 4 March 2010) by North Norfolk District Council to reject an application for a new Tesco store in the historic town of Sheringham has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth.

The Council rejected Tesco in favour of an environmentally friendly community retail store.

The green campaigning charity is calling on the Government to introduce stronger national and local planning policy to curb supermarket dominance and instead support independent shops, local economies and a broader choice of retail for communities.

Friends of the Earth’s food campaigner Helen Rimmer said:

“This is fantastic news for the local people and businesses of Sheringham, who have fought against a new Tesco for nearly fifteen years.

“Tesco controls a third of the UK’s grocery market and communities up and down the country are fighting back against its takeover of our towns and cities.

“It is now vital that the Government and local authorities bring in new policies to support independent shops and the local economy to give communities a genuine choice about where to shop.”

Green groups like Friends Of The Earth appear to be campaigning to make the practice of supermarkets fairer and more ethical but they are actually campaigning to stop them operating at all.

They will celebrate planning permission being denied to supermarkets because it’s a way of stopping people shopping in those supermarkets.

“It is now vital that the Government and local authorities bring in new policies to support independent shops and the local economy to give communities a genuine choice about where to shop.”

Yeah FOE are for giving communities a genuine choice about where to shop….

as long as communities don’t want to shop in Tesco!

Lefties protest against Tesco’s profits

profreedan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:16:22 +0000

This was on the Respect Party’s website which is another socialist party which isn’t shy of using the current financial crises to garner more paying supporters.

Protests hit Tesco in Bethnal Green

08/10/2008

Tesco Protest

Protestors assembled outside Tesco in Bethnal Green on Monday this week to voice their anger over the company’s massive profits whilst food prices soar.

Tesco have announced £1.43 billion in profits in just six months this year, up 10 per cent on 2007. Tesco boss Terry Leahy pocketed over £10m in pay in 2006.

But the average family will now pay 12 per cent more for their groceries in Tesco stores – around £750 a year – while the financial crisis puts jobs and homes at risks.

Twenty supporters of the People Before Profit Charter handed out hundreds of leaflets to shoppers and met with an enthusiastic response.

The Charter is being launched to call on the government to do more to protect working people from the effects of the recession. Signatories so far include Tony Benn and George Monbiot, alongside hundreds of trade unionists and activists.

Local GP, Jackie Turner, said, “The support we’ve got has been fantastic. Everyone can see that the huge price increases for food go straight into Tesco’s fat profits. Supporters of the People Before Profit Charter are calling for a windfall tax on profiteers like Tesco and the energy companies.

“If the government can bail-out the bankers, they can help out ordinary shoppers.”

The People Before Profit Charter will be holding a launch meeting in Conway Hall, Red Lion Square in central London at 7pm on 16th October, with speakers including Jeremy Corbyn MP and Larry Elliot, economics editor of the Guardian.In the meantime, Left Alternative will be joining hundreds of other protesters outside the Bank of England on Friday, 10th October to make it clear to the government and bankers that working people will not pay for the economic crisis.

And if Tesco lowered the prices these lefties would be winging that Tesco are “putting local shops out of buisness” and “cashing in” on the financial crises.

They call for a windfall tax on Tesco….

“If the government can bail-out the bankers, they can help out ordinary shoppers.”

How the smeg is a tax on Tesco going to help out ordinary shoppers? They’ll just end up having to pay even more for food and other essentials.

More on cheap supermarket booze killing local pubs

profreedan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:08:55 +0000

Press Release
Good Beer Guide: ‘Supermarkets are killing the British Pub’

Issued: Tuesday 9 September 2008

Status: Embargoed: Thursday 11 September 2008

CAMRA calls for Government action to save pubs

At the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2009, CAMRA is calling on the Government to introduce measures to prevent supermarkets selling alcohol as a loss leader. In response to this week’s announcement that 36 pubs are closing every week, with a gloomy outlook for many more British pubs, the consumer group is urging the Government to introduce minimum pricing to reduce the gap between supermarket and pub prices.

“Cheap beer in supermarkets – often sold at less than the price of bottled water – is killing the British pub”, says CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 Editor Roger Protz as he launched the 2009 edition today (September 11th). “Over 150 pubs a month are closing” Protz said. “And the main reason is simple: people are abandoning their locals because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the price charged by pubs.”

CAMRA claims that well-run community pubs provide a perfect environment for adults to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but as small businesses, they are unable to absorb tax and cost increases and cannot demand the wholesale discounts enjoyed by supermarkets. Pubs are no longer able to compete on a level playing field.

Industry statistics show that off-trade beer prices have fallen by 1% in the last year, while pub prices have increased by around 4.4%. Since 2002 Off-trade beer prices have fallen by 7% while pub prices have increased by 24%.

As a result of the 10% beer tax increase in this year’s Budget, prices in pubs have increased by 4.4% in the last year and the average price of a pint of lager in a pub is now £2.82. In contrast, prices in the off trade have fallen by a further 1% as a result of huge price promotions. The Great British Pub is being targeted by ruthless off trade discounting that is resulting in falling pub visits and record pub closures.

CAMRA believes Government action is required to help pubs as they are the best place to enjoy alcohol responsibly in a regulated and socially controlled environment.

In a recent CAMRA pricing survey, research found drastically low figures in the off-trade with mainstream global lager bands on sale for as little as 57 pence a pint.

Examples of price deals found in supermarkets in September 2008:

Sainsbury’s: Foster’s lager – 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases of 15) for £20. That’s the equivalent of 57.4 pence per pint.
Asda: John Smith’s Smooth Bitter – 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases of 15) for £20. That’s also the equivalent of 57.4 pence per pint.
Morrison’s: 24 cans of 440ml Stella Artois lager for £15.47. That’s the equivalent of 77.9 pence per pint.
Lidl: 8 cans of 440ml Carlsberg lager for £4.49. That’s the equivalent of 56.9 pence per pint.

Mr Protz commented: “When a pub closes the community’s heart is ripped out and dies. It’s a particular problem in rural areas, where the village pub is the heart of the community. People go to pubs for friendship, conversation, to enjoy an affordable meal, or just quietly read a newspaper.”

“And pubs are regulated licensed premises. Publicans who permit bad behaviour such as heavy drinking will lose their licences. “Supermarkets face no such restraints. They have no idea what happens to cheap alcohol once it leaves their stores. In too many cases, it’s passed on to under-age drinkers. It’s the supermarkets, not pubs, that encourage binge drinking, with their massively discounted sales of alcohol.”

Roger Protz describes the relationship between big brewers and supermarkets as, “the economics of the mad house. Coors, the American giant that now owns the former Bass breweries in Britain, has seen its profits halve in recent years – mainly as a result of the deep discounts demanded by the retailers.

“One solution is for England and Wales to follow the example of the Scottish government and consider a minimum pricing policy for alcohol sold in the off-trade. Urgent action is needed to help save that great British institution – your friendly, neighbourhood local.”

“Over 150 pubs a month are closing” Protz said. “And the main reason is simple: people are abandoning their locals because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the price charged by pubs.”

So people should be stopped from buying cheap beer in supermarkets to stop them “abandoning” their locals. Why should consumers not be able to find cheaper beer elsewhere.

And maybe pubs are closing because their beer is overpriced.

“When a pub closes the community’s heart is ripped out and dies. It’s a particular problem in rural areas, where the village pub is the heart of the community. People go to pubs for friendship, conversation, to enjoy an affordable meal, or just quietly read a newspaper.”

This the same community this community that codswallop that’s drilled out about local shops.

Pubs arn’t just there to sell people booze they are their to bind communities together? Really!

We suppose pub landlords are salt of the earth types who help little old ladies over the road and tick off roudy youths.

And if people are that bothered about their pubs being the life and soul of their communities why are they ditching them for cheap supermarket booze?

Cheap supermarket booze “killing” British pubs

profreedan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:56:31 +0000

Supermarkets ‘Killing Our Pubs’

By Sky News SkyNews – Thursday, September 11 02:57 am

Supermarkets are killing British pubs. That is the message from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) which is calling on the Government to make supermarkets raise the price of booze.

(Advertisement)

Around 36 pubs are calling time on their business every week, according to figures.

Now CAMRA is calling for the government to introduce minimum pricing to reduce the gap between supermarket and pub prices.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 Editor Roger Protz said: “Cheap beer in supermarkets – often sold at less than the price of bottled water – is killing the British pub.”

“Over 150 pubs a month are closing. And the main reason is simple: people are abandoning their locals because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the price charged by pubs.”

The average price of a pint of lager in a pub now stands at £2.82 after price hikes of 4.4% in the last year. This has been blamed on the 10% beer tax increase in the Budget.

In contrast, trade prices to supermarkets have fallen by a further 1% as a result of huge promotions.

CAMRA claims British pubs are being targeted by ruthless discounting that is resulting in falling pub visits and record pub closures.

Mr Protz added: “When a pub closes the community’s heart is ripped out and dies. It’s a particular problem in rural areas, where the village pub is the heart of the community.

“Pubs are regulated licensed premises. Publicans who permit bad behaviour such as heavy drinking will lose their licences.

“Supermarkets face no such restraints. They have no idea what happens to cheap alcohol once it leaves their stores. In too many cases, it’s passed on to under-age drinkers. It’s the supermarkets, not pubs, that encourage binge drinking, with their massively discounted sales of alcohol.”

The Campaign For Real Ale want supermarket shoppers to pay more for alcohol in order to force them to buy booze from pubs instead of supermarkets.

They show fake concern over binge drinking when probably their attitude is “People can get as pissed as they like as long as they get pissed in pubs and not on cheap supermarket booze.”

Cheap supermarket promotions are encouraging binge drinking are they? What about the “Happy Hour” and two for one deals that a lot of pubs offer?

They should can the concern over binge drinking and under age drinking. Their only concern is with keeping pubs open.