US. I read a front page article (small city) about a grocery shop that was closing down after 80? years. They were able to survive when a shop from Salt Lake City (big City) branched out here then came Albertsons, Costco and finally Wal-mart. They couldn't survive any more so they are closing down.
The newspaper showed a photo of a 100 year old woman pushing a grocery cart and she said didn't know how she would handle shopping now that the neighborhood grocery shop was closing. Sad really. This lady seems to be in very good shape from the picture from what I could see.
The problem I see is that the lady is going to loose her independence by having to get a ride or have to order her food from one of the two services that exist were you can order by phone. She also loses out on some exercise and some socializing when she goes to the local store.
OK. I read on here frequently about how we all love to go Morrison's, Tesco or what ever for their low prices but we may forget the true cost to others.
Correct me but aren't there still a fair amount of independent grocery shops still in the UK?
So when I see UK headlines announcing that a new supermarket wants to come into town and demolish an old castle
or a farmers cattle market to make room for it or the more common announcement when I read it will create 3000
more jobs I have to think of the other cost to the community.
Is big better?
I have read that a lot of UK dairy farmers are having to sell up because the amount they get for their milk doesn't cover their expenses. Undoubtedly this is because the Cooperatives or ? have their price dictated by the large supermarkets.
Incidentally we had a large discount supermarket open up this week in SLC and there were crowds around the block and they are giving Wal-mart a run for their money in the areas they have opened already. Yea!
My point. Is big better? What is the cost to the people who loose their jobs and local shops?
I have flipped in using the UK and US but the issue is in both countries.