A bitter email row has broken out between Nisa-Today's members ahead of the buying group's agm next Wednesday.

The Grocer has received copies of two anonymous communications from Nisa-Today's members, one slating the Nisa Members Association (NMA) and a response that is highly critical of the company's board.

The row was sparked after four former NMA members put themselves up for election to the Nisa-Today's board.

The first email, from a specially created email account, concerned-i-am@hotmail.co.uk, blasted the former NMA members.

It attacked the NMA for taking a complaint against Nisa-Today's and Costcutter over alleged cartel behaviour to the OFT, forcing Nisa to run up huge legal bills to defend itself.The recently published Nisa-Today's Annual Report 2007 revealed that the company spent £158,000 dealing with the OFT complaint, which was dismissed by the regulator in February. The email also slammed the NMA for not disclosing its finances, particularly as its campaign to block the merger was funded by contributions from Nisa members.

But the attack on the NMA has prompted an equally vitriolic response, from a member under the name of Truetransparency wantedatnisa@hotmail.co.uk. The email thanked the NMA for saving the company while accusing the board of wasting £5m over the past year. This includes the cost to Nisa-Today's of due diligence for the failed merger, which amounted to £2.19m.

The email also questioned payments totalling £2.77m made to former chairman Dudley Ramsden. "Nisa members are out of pocket by at least £5m," claimed the member. "The contribution I made to the NMA was well spent." Nisa said the payment of £2.77m was "the balance of contractual entitlement to Ramsden Business Services".

Nisa-Today's chief executive Neil Turton said that he was aware of the emails, but did not wish to comment.

Doorstepping Nisa style p32

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