Supermarkets killing other shops (From Gazette & Herald)

Supermarkets killing other shops

AS farmers we know all too well the power that supermarkets exert over the supply chain, and now there is official confirmation that the retail giants are on course to obliterate their smaller retail competitors.

A leaked report from an all Party Committee of MPs has predicted that by 2015 we will no longer have the traditional corner shop in our country.

Independent shops are closing at the rate of 2,000 a year and if that trend persists their number will fall below a critical mass which, in turn, will see the demise of the wholesale sector of our food supply chain.

The likes of Booker could vanish and when they go, the remaining small retailers will have nowhere to buy their goods.

The MPs committee took grave exception to the manner in which supermarkets advanced their cause.

In the planning procedure, they would use their huge resources to "pay" councils for environmental and traffic improvements in exchange for planning consent for a new store.

In another example closer to home, the committee heard how Tesco opened a new store at Withernsea and then decided to target Proudfoots, an independent Yorkshire chain of long standing.

Tescos offered new customers £8 off every £20 spent in the store which was the equivalent of a 40 per cent discount and that soon dealt with Proudfoots.

There are wider dangers in allowing the four supermarkets to dominate the grocery trade because in times of crisis such as when fuel was short in the millennium year, we are totally reliant upon their supply chain. If that fails, then we all go hungry.

Take out a New Year's resolution for 2006 and buy as much as you can from your local butcher and local shops.

We are always being told we must diversify in order to survive, but what do you do if that diversification means a technical breach of your tenancy agreement?

The Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) has been looking at this amongst other problems and just before Christmas, an adjudication system was launched which will oversee disputes between landlords and tenants.

Either side can apply to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to have an adjudicator appointed and he will make a decision about any differences that there may be regarding proposed agri-environment or diversification projects on a particular farm.

Applications are free and Defra will be funding the scheme for four years. Anyone wanting further information please give me a ring.

A little fox told me over the Christmas period that the League Against Cruel Sports has launched an emergency appeal to raise money for their Hunt Crimewatch programme.

I understand they want funds to buy video cameras, hand-held global positioning systems and walkie-talkies to monitor hunting activity.

Donations can be sent to this freepost address: League Against Cruel Sports, Freepost SE5087, London, SE1 1BR.

I heard that one supporter had sent them a brick to help them with their building programme and another a Yellow Pages directory in case they needed some telephone numbers.

This month's Pig World contained a fascinating article on the extent to which Cranswicks, of Driffield, are now utilising the whole pig carcase.

Not only are the feet now going to China but the hair is being windrowed and turned into compost.

Their latest delicacy is, however, the tail which is being exported to France to be pickled and eaten as a culinary delicacy.

I suppose it only confirms my fears over French habits!

The public services have gone bonkers in their head-long rush to be politically correct. Council office workers from Dudley, near Birmingham, have been sent a series of toy pigs as a promotion exercise from one of their suppliers, and the little chaps duly brightened up a lot of dull desks.

Unfortunately, they overlooked the views of one single Muslim worker who complained that she was offended on religious grounds.

Instructions went out that all the toy pigs were to be removed and slaughtered immediately!

Without the receipts we have been historically receiving for sheep premium and IACS, the effect on farmers' bank accounts is just filtering through.

On average, there seems to be about 20 per cent increase in overall borrowing and if we don't get the Single Payment until March then the agricultural sector will have increased debt of £25 million.

It gets worse if Defra fail to make all the payments in March and some businesses will be stretched.

The banks are taking a sympathetic stance and if you need help ask for it.

The OTMS Scheme comes to an end on January 20 and so we only have two more weeks to go.

If you have entries please let Philip Place know as soon as possible.

Cattle born after August 1, 1996, they are now allowed back into the food chain and, in fact, as from 20th of this month that is the only spot that they can be sold.

It is good to see that Keith Norman is now on the list of approved abattoirs dealing with the older cattle and I hope it won't be long before we have a decent number coming forward on a Tuesday to sell by auction.

Forward 84 cattle including 36 bulls 1,324 sheep including 338 ewes. Light steers to 131p GI Marwood, Harome, ave 120.2p; heavy steers to 125p DR Jackson, Carnaby, ave 113.4p; light heifers to 130p GI Marwood, Harome, ave 115.3p; heavy heifers to 136p GI Marwood, ave 106.3p; medium bulls to 117p P Nesom, Wilton, ave 106.5p; heavy bulls to 117p P & I Beal, Settrington, ave 106.2p; black and white bulls to 78p AM Avison; Black Bull standard lambs to 112.9p, W Burdass & Son, Harpham, ave 99.03p; medium hoggs to 114.2p FJ Hodsman & Sons Ltd, Eddlethorpe, ave 101.4p; heavy lambs to 104.7p D Earnshaw, Salton, ave 99.7p; overweight hoggs to 103.7p J Marwood, Settrington, ave 94p; ewes to £42 FJ Hodsman & Sons Ltd, Eddlethorpe, ave £28.90.

Updated: 09:39 Wednesday, January 04, 2006