Quote El Barbudo="El Barbudo"Sorry but that's a simplistic view.
It only takes a shift of 30% of trade from the independent to the supermarket to finish off the independent shop because that's his margin wiped out.
So, whilst potentially 70% of shoppers in a locale (let's just say a majority) might prefer the small independents, even if they stay loyal the independents still go bust.
No supermarket has an absolute monopoly but the power intrinsic in their sheer size means they have the same advantage over an independent as if they did have a monopoly.
Virtually the only ones who can compete in those circumstances are other supermarket chains ... and starting a supermarket chain from small beginnings these days is well-nigh impossible.
M&S started in 1884, Morrison's in 1889 ... they'd have no chance of the same growth if they were starting out now.'"
You miss the obvious point about retail - giving customers reasons to want to shop with you - don't blame the supermarkets because smaller retailers are incapable of presenting a proposition that customers deem worthy of taking up. There are still hundreds of independent food retailers what is it that they have that those who have gone out of business don't?
