Supermarket Battle
The editorial this week tackles the question of the Co-op versus Asda.
Written by Alison Prince
Thursday, 26 June 2008
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There has so far been no confirmation from Asda that a mobile service to Arran is seriously proposed. Possibly the idea has been floated to stir up a flurry of public opinion that may give the Walmart marketing team an idea of what reception might await an Asda van rolling off the ferry at Brodick.
The Arran Voice cannot of course take sides in any argument between retailers. It is every individual’s right to shop at whatever outlet they find most acceptable, for whatever reasons may happen to be most persuasive. We do not comment, either, on rumours concerning the running of any business. It is the function of the trade unions to negotiate with management to ensure that fair and acceptable treatment is established. However, the interests of Arran as a community are very much our concern. This island needs good, interesting shops, both for its residents and for the visitors who come here in search of an enjoyable experience. The provision of these shops depends very largely on the careful enterprise of local people, and the individual atmosphere and chosen specialities of the village stores contribute immensely to the colour and cultural life of Arran. However, catering for the needs of somewhere between 5 and 15,000 people, according to the seasonal fluctuation, demands big resources, and a supermarket has become a basic necessity.
From what we can see from a small sample interviewed, opinions on the Asda issue polarise sharply according to income. Those who are worried about the problems of making ends meet naturally support the idea of any retail outlet that can offer reduced prices. However, a large proportion of Arran people take a view that is based on questions of principle. For them, the Co-op’s ethical policy is important. They approve of its a high proportion of Fair Trade goods and its refusal to deal with oppressive or ecologically damaging regimes. They also recognise that the Co-op has historically been the only major chain willing to provide relatively small stores on distant islands. This, coupled with a willingness to average out the transport costs so that remote communities are not surcharged, has enabled people on Scotland’s further-out islands to survive.
Arran is in the fortunate position of being relatively close to the mainland, which contributes to a sophisticated expectation of wide choice. However, to cross the water entails the expenditure of time and effort as well as money, and so the present possibility that a mobile branch of a mainland store may make itself available on Arran will appeal strongly to those who enjoy shopping as an activity. However, there are many islanders who regard it as a tiresome necessity, and for them the prospect of more choice and more complication is not in the least attractive. On the Co-op/Asda issue, there is unlikely to be any agreement, but we must hope that the battle of the giants does not tread the owners of our small, individual stores underfoot.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
1 view 0 commentsThere has so far been no confirmation from Asda that a mobile service to Arran is seriously proposed. Possibly the idea has been floated to stir up a flurry of public opinion that may give the Walmart marketing team an idea of what reception might await an Asda van rolling off the ferry at Brodick.
The Arran Voice cannot of course take sides in any argument between retailers. It is every individual’s right to shop at whatever outlet they find most acceptable, for whatever reasons may happen to be most persuasive. We do not comment, either, on rumours concerning the running of any business. It is the function of the trade unions to negotiate with management to ensure that fair and acceptable treatment is established. However, the interests of Arran as a community are very much our concern. This island needs good, interesting shops, both for its residents and for the visitors who come here in search of an enjoyable experience. The provision of these shops depends very largely on the careful enterprise of local people, and the individual atmosphere and chosen specialities of the village stores contribute immensely to the colour and cultural life of Arran. However, catering for the needs of somewhere between 5 and 15,000 people, according to the seasonal fluctuation, demands big resources, and a supermarket has become a basic necessity.
From what we can see from a small sample interviewed, opinions on the Asda issue polarise sharply according to income. Those who are worried about the problems of making ends meet naturally support the idea of any retail outlet that can offer reduced prices. However, a large proportion of Arran people take a view that is based on questions of principle. For them, the Co-op’s ethical policy is important. They approve of its a high proportion of Fair Trade goods and its refusal to deal with oppressive or ecologically damaging regimes. They also recognise that the Co-op has historically been the only major chain willing to provide relatively small stores on distant islands. This, coupled with a willingness to average out the transport costs so that remote communities are not surcharged, has enabled people on Scotland’s further-out islands to survive.
Arran is in the fortunate position of being relatively close to the mainland, which contributes to a sophisticated expectation of wide choice. However, to cross the water entails the expenditure of time and effort as well as money, and so the present possibility that a mobile branch of a mainland store may make itself available on Arran will appeal strongly to those who enjoy shopping as an activity. However, there are many islanders who regard it as a tiresome necessity, and for them the prospect of more choice and more complication is not in the least attractive. On the Co-op/Asda issue, there is unlikely to be any agreement, but we must hope that the battle of the giants does not tread the owners of our small, individual stores underfoot.
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