Although 80% of independent retailers are willing to help the Competition Commission with its grocery market investigation, only half have even heard of the current probe.
These are some of shock findings of The Grocer's latest reader panel survey.
Unsurprisingly, 100% of retailers questioned feel that the major supermarkets have unfair advantages over independent retailers.
Many feel that talking to small, independent retailers is the only way the Commission would get to know the true picture of what is happening in the market. “They need to get out and talk to real people about it,” says one shop owner. “They need to see what effect the buying power of the supermarkets has on us,” says another.
“There was all that publicity the other month about Happy Hours in pubs being blamed for unruly behaviour and drunkenness but the government doesn't stop the supermarkets selling cases of lager for under ten quid,” he continues.
“It is not only figures that are important and the Commission needs to see how tough it is to run a small shop when you've got a Tesco Express up the road,” says another.
In July, officials leading the Competition Commission's inquiry into the grocery market were considering ways to elicit commercial information from small retailers who own as little as one store. Many worried about low response levels and if smaller independents had the resources to fill in complicated or detailed questionnaires.
However, two thirds of the retailers contacted by The Grocer say they would have the time and staff to respond to the Commission if they were approached. “Of course I would respond,” says one retailer, while another says that they would make time because the issue is so important.
Some suggest that the Commission could tailor the information to the smaller shop owner by making questionnaires multiple choice, for instance.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is currently working on a business model designed to determine the effect of the major multiples on unaffiliated c-stores ('Small retailers to get inquiry vote', The Grocer, 5 August, p7) to combat fears that this sector will not be heard by the Commission.
There is much cynicism among respondents as to whether their evidence would make any difference to the investigation, with nearly 40% believing it would make no difference whatsoever. “The supermarkets always find their way around things as they have the people and the power to do it,” says one shop owner.
However, more than 60% did think their evidence would make a difference.
The questions we asked:
1) Do the big supermarkets have unfair advantages over independents?
Yes - 100%
No - 0%
2) Have you heard of the Competition Commission grocery market probe?
Yes - 52%
No - 48%
3) Would you give evidence to the CC if approached?
Yes - 78%
No - 22%
4) Would you have the time/staff to reply to an approach by the CC? Yes - 66%
No - 34%
5) Do you think that your evidence would make a difference to the CC's investigation?
Yes - 62%
No - 38%
These are some of shock findings of The Grocer's latest reader panel survey.
Unsurprisingly, 100% of retailers questioned feel that the major supermarkets have unfair advantages over independent retailers.
Many feel that talking to small, independent retailers is the only way the Commission would get to know the true picture of what is happening in the market. “They need to get out and talk to real people about it,” says one shop owner. “They need to see what effect the buying power of the supermarkets has on us,” says another.
“There was all that publicity the other month about Happy Hours in pubs being blamed for unruly behaviour and drunkenness but the government doesn't stop the supermarkets selling cases of lager for under ten quid,” he continues.
“It is not only figures that are important and the Commission needs to see how tough it is to run a small shop when you've got a Tesco Express up the road,” says another.
In July, officials leading the Competition Commission's inquiry into the grocery market were considering ways to elicit commercial information from small retailers who own as little as one store. Many worried about low response levels and if smaller independents had the resources to fill in complicated or detailed questionnaires.
However, two thirds of the retailers contacted by The Grocer say they would have the time and staff to respond to the Commission if they were approached. “Of course I would respond,” says one retailer, while another says that they would make time because the issue is so important.
Some suggest that the Commission could tailor the information to the smaller shop owner by making questionnaires multiple choice, for instance.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is currently working on a business model designed to determine the effect of the major multiples on unaffiliated c-stores ('Small retailers to get inquiry vote', The Grocer, 5 August, p7) to combat fears that this sector will not be heard by the Commission.
There is much cynicism among respondents as to whether their evidence would make any difference to the investigation, with nearly 40% believing it would make no difference whatsoever. “The supermarkets always find their way around things as they have the people and the power to do it,” says one shop owner.
However, more than 60% did think their evidence would make a difference.
The questions we asked:
1) Do the big supermarkets have unfair advantages over independents?
Yes - 100%
No - 0%
2) Have you heard of the Competition Commission grocery market probe?
Yes - 52%
No - 48%
3) Would you give evidence to the CC if approached?
Yes - 78%
No - 22%
4) Would you have the time/staff to reply to an approach by the CC? Yes - 66%
No - 34%
5) Do you think that your evidence would make a difference to the CC's investigation?
Yes - 62%
No - 38%
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