‘Tescopoly’ forces extension of consultation for small businesses, says Mail on Sunday

30 04 2006 United Kingdom

Internet campaign for small businesses has forced extended consultation, says Mail on Sunday.

A campaign by the Tescopoly website has forced the Office of Fair Trading to extend its consultation on the role of supermarkets in the UK grocery market, according to a report in the Financial Mail on Sunday.

The OFT proposed to refer the market for retail groceries to the Competition Commission for investigation, based on new evidence that supermarkets might ‘prevent, restrict or distort competition’. Consultation on this proposal was open until 6th April.

The ‘big four’ supermarket chains together account for over three quarters of the UK grocery market and Tesco alone controls 30 per cent.

Tescopoly is an alliance was launched in 2005 to curb the power of the major British supermarkets’ and their damaging impact on communities, the environment and small businesses in the UK – primarily Tesco’s.

The alliance campaigns for a code of practice that is legally binding on supermarket chains, an independent watchdog to oversee the grocery market and support for local shops from local authorities and Government.

According to the Financial Mail’s report, Tescopoly’s online petition to lobby the government has evoked such a large response that the OFT is likely to extend the consultation period until 9th May.

The Tescopoly Alliance represents a diverse range of members including the Small and Family Farms Alliance, Friends of the Earth and local independent groups. The Tescopoly website (page opens in a new window) provides a resource for local campaigners to share information and ideas.

You can lobby Alan Michael, Secretary of State at the DTI, by visiting Tescopoly’s web page (page opens in a new window)

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