‘Shop Local First’ campaign to protect local shops and environment

29 04 2006 United Kingdom

A new campaign has been launched urging consumers to ‘Shop Local First’, support independent retailers, protect the environment and safeguard local communities.

The ‘Shop Local First’ campaign was announced by Friends of the Earth with support from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). It points to the number of local shops being put out of business because of the growing power of supermarkets.

Friends of the Earth says that shopping locally is a better option in environmental terms too, especially if you choose locally-sourced food that hasn’t been flown half way around the world to supermarket shelves.

The ‘Ghost Town Britain’ report by the New Economics Foundation (nef) showed that between 1995 and 2005, the UK lost nearly 60,000 corner shops, grocers, high street banks, post offices and pubs.

It predicted that, on current trends, the number of local outlets will have dropped by nearly a third in the two decades to 2010.

David Rae, Chief Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, explained that it is important to counteract the growing power of supermarket chains in the long term:

“What Friends of the Earth’s campaign highlights is that our choices on where to shop have environmental consequences as well as effects on a local community, on the local economy and on choice and diversity available to shoppers.”

Carol Undy, FSB National Chairman, said:

“Unless people appreciate the service, flexibility and unique selling points of their local small shops they will be lost forever.

“At present these valuable community resources can be taken for granted. One day soon shoppers could look around their high street and wonder where the shops have gone. We welcome the initiative by Friends of the Earth and we fully support it.”

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