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FSB slams defence of supermarkets

The Competition Commission’s claim that small shops are not suffering at the hands of supermarkets has been condemned by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). An 18-month investigation by the Competition Commission said that supermarkets had no adverse impact on independent retailers.

The FSB said last week that they believe that certain factors were not addressed sufficiently, including the unfair treatment of suppliers and below-cost selling.

Colin Stratton, FSB North East Regional Chairman, said: “The Competition Commission’s report seems to recognise problems such as below-cost selling and the shoddy treatment of suppliers, but claims that small independent retailers are not affected. This is absurd. Small independent retailers are closing at a rate of 2000 per year and you’ve only got to walk down your local high street to see the evidence of this.

“The suggestion that, to increase competition, the planning system should be relaxed to allow more supermarkets to be built is perverse.”

The FSB has called for the Competition Commission to recognise that big food companies such as supermarkets affect independent retailers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .