Anger at Tesco 'takeover'

Dan Thompson

November 13, 2009

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TWO new city centre Tesco stores threaten the future of independent food shops, a councillor has warned.

The supermarket's Express stores will open in the Northern Quarter and on Deansgate by Christmas. They will be the fourth and fifth Tescos within half a mile of each other.

Coun Marc Ramsbottom, who represents the city centre, said the number of chain supermarkets is `throttling' independent shops.

He said: "It's reducing the choice for people. There is a plethora of Tesco and Sainsbury's stores. They are strangling the independent shops.

Work is ongoing to turn the ground floor of Maybrook House, on the corner of Deansgate and Blackfriars Street, into a Tesco Express.

The supermarket has applied to sell alcohol during opening hours - 6am to 11pm.

The finishing touches are also been put to a Tesco Express on Church Street in the Northern Quarter.

Opposition

Permission was granted by the council in June - despite opposition from neighbours.

Coun Ramsbottom added: "The council has the power to stop the supermarkets' stranglehold over the marketplace but they don't have the commitment or the political will."

There are 64 Tesco stores in a 12-mile radius of Manchester city centre.

A spokesman for the supermarket said: "There is no reason why supermarkets and independent stores cannot thrive side by side.

"More often than not, independent stores offer something very different from Tesco."

Peter Babb, the council's head of planning, said: "The council does have sympathy with independent retailers and the character they can add to an area.

"Where a planning application has been submitted for a new shop use, the council is not in a position to discriminate against an individual company regarding its market share."

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Knowsleyman, Paphos (13/11/2009 at 08:50)

If the customers were not pilling in and buying, at lower prices, Tesco would not be opening the shops.

Once again, the customers are voting with their feet.

Matt Atkinson (13/11/2009 at 09:12)

I thought the Northern Quarter was suppose to be an area set aside for independant and local businesses, not big national chains but I suppose Tesco just wrote a cheque to the council and that was the end of that.

Savage Mandarin, Manchester (13/11/2009 at 09:25)

Good old Tesco! Taking over Britain one corner at a time - and our rulers tell us that they can't do anything to stop them. When will we be changing this country's name to "Tescoland"?

source de sagesse, Manchester (13/11/2009 at 09:51)

Manchester doesn't even have a market which would be a nice antedote to all these faceless bland corporate outlets like Tesco and Starbucks. I would clear Piccadilly Sq of all the concrete urban junk and the silly wall and have it as a market square for markets and events, that stupid wall will inevitably be demolished anyway when Howard Bernstein retires.

Rammylad (13/11/2009 at 09:53)

The same has happened in Rammy. I would love to meet the idiot councillor who thought 3 supermarkets (the latest being the cheapy aldi), would be a good idea for a town renowned for it's independant shops.

Show you face said councillor or are you now too embarrased.

The Last Outpost, Wigglesworth (13/11/2009 at 10:11)

tesco is hell bent on world domination.

FrostySnowman (13/11/2009 at 10:35)

Towns in the Lake District , Bowness, Ambleside, Windermere etc do not allow large supermarkets chains and the result is they have thriving high streets of mainly independant reatilers

Stevedore, Quayside (13/11/2009 at 10:49)

What has "senior" councillor Pat Karney got to say about this developement?

Stevedore, Quayside (13/11/2009 at 10:50)

Tescochester; how does that sound?

James S (13/11/2009 at 10:53)

To be fair there's nothing at the north end of Deansgate for the locals/workers to use as a local shop, so fair play to Tesco for identifying the gap! Can we have one down in Castlefield please?

Red or Dead, Manchester (13/11/2009 at 11:21)

Pathetic and typical of a council who does not care about people trying to earn a decent living without being overthrown by these corporate giants who will nt be happy until they've tkaen over the entire world. It is the same council who allowed a stupid amount of apartment blocks to be built in the city centre because it means more council tax for them. Another demonstration of how our council and the likes of idiot pat karney do not care about anyone only themselves.

citycentre, manchester (13/11/2009 at 11:22)

"TWO new city centre Tesco stores threaten the future of independent food shops, a councillor has warned"

Actually people prefering to shop at Tesco as compared to independent stores is what threatens their future

citycentre, manchester (13/11/2009 at 11:22)

"To be fair there's nothing at the north end of Deansgate for the locals/workers to use as a local shop, so fair play to Tesco for identifying the gap! Can we have one down in Castlefield please?"

Except the two co-op branches and M&S food hall a spar in the northern quarter and tesco and aldi all of 5 minutes away on market st. Castlefield has Sainsburys and Tesco on Quay st, Nisa, Store! and Lakeland and is less than 10 mnin from Asda Hulme and Sainsburys on regent rd.

FrostySnowman (13/11/2009 at 11:25)

I'm surprised Tesco have not asked to have an outlet in the German Christmas Markets in Albert and St Annes Squares.

david duck (13/11/2009 at 11:29)

I work very close to the site of the new Tesco on Deansgate and as far as I am awrae it is being well received from locally. There are no facilities of this type at this end of Deansgate and most people are getting sick and tired of having to walk up Market St fighting the crowds (which are even worse during school holidays and leading upto christmas) and having to take 30 minutes just to get something for lunch.Well done Tesco this will be well received.

MasonTandooriChicken, Cumbria (13/11/2009 at 11:34)

Have you seen how many Greggs and Subway food outlets there are in Manchester City Centre, I'd say at least 20 each per square mile and that in itself is absolutely disgraceful. You are ok in my books Tesco, five isn't too bad. Looking forward to seeing them open.

RJKS, St Retford (13/11/2009 at 11:43)

Shouldn't this have been pointed out at the council meeting when they must have had planning permission etc ?.

RJKS, St Retford (13/11/2009 at 11:47)

MasonTandooriChicken, Cumbria; Tesco's opening it's 5th store in Mcr city centre will have a big impact on Cumbria won't it ??.

C.O. Jones (13/11/2009 at 12:19)

Folks, This is what i was trying to say. Been having some browser issues this morning..

They annoy the hell out of me (Tesco) also but I cannot stop using them. Just got 100 quids worth of wine for a fiver and a 60 quid magazine subscription for a terminally ill pal for half the price. The double up club card points on line are ridiculously cheap. Nobody can compete with that.. HELP!

I try to restore the Ying and the Yang by also using my local market, independent butcher and small independent stores. Just been out to the market/butcher this morning and spent 20 quid.. Perhaps that is the solution.?

People need to make the effort not to fall completely for the mantra of the Big 5 and perhaps spread their spending power around a little. It takes more effort but surely independent shops and markets are worth making the effort for?

Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (13/11/2009 at 12:35)

Manchester=Tescopolis. Tell you what. Get all your fruit and veg off any local market and see how much you save over 12 months. It will run into hundreds. Then you'll be supporting local families, saving money and feeling ruddy virtuous. I got two massive bags of fresh fruit, veg and salad stuff off one stall on Bolton market last week and it came to just over £4!

Paul, South Manchester (13/11/2009 at 12:39)

There is a great food market in the Arndale on the High Street. It has a butchers, fish mongers, greengrocers, and other specialist food shops. It also has a great selection of stores where you can get lunch - sushi bar, chinese, indian, greek, pancakes etc.

Black Flag (13/11/2009 at 12:46)

RJKS: "Shouldn't this have been pointed out at the council meeting when they must have had planning permission etc ?."

It's irrelevant to planning permission. You can't refuse planning permission for a shop on the basis of who might end up operating that shop.

The planning system isn't the place to resolve competition issues.

daniel james (13/11/2009 at 12:49)

If anyone doesn't like Tesco then dont shop there simple as that.

Lots of people do like them which is why they are such a success. They provide fresh food at decent prices, people still use good quality independent shops alongside Tesco such as organic butchers, good quality greengrocers and such like, I know I do.

The bad quality corner shops that sell poor quality food at over inflated prices will suffer, and that isn't a bad thing - they have been robbing us blind for years - if you want to shop at these over priced poor quality shops then you are free to do so, just as I would like to be free to chosse to shop as Tesco, Sainsburys or such like, its not rocket science

Knowall, stretford end (13/11/2009 at 12:58)

I got two massive bags of fresh fruit, veg and salad stuff off one stall on Bolton market last week and it came to just over £4!
Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton

thats a days wage in Bolton:-)

gillykins, urmston (13/11/2009 at 13:01)

People don't HAVE to shop there. I myself use a mix of supermarkets and local shops so I am keeping the local economy and my purse happy. Not keen on Tesco at all, much prefer Morrisons, can we have one of those near me please?

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