Just picture the millions that have been spent investigating the power and practices of the supermarkets (my guess is it's a big pile of dough) - only for the Competition Commission to regale us with conclusions like smaller shops are "not in terminal decline". (What?! Just how sick do they have do get?) Now, I've only seen the dark clouds of the headlines this morning, but they've done nothing to alter my feeling that what we really need in this country is a Common Sense Commission.
It's hard to imagine that anyone who's worked in the grocery industry doesn't know what's going on. So just who have the bods with the clipboards at the OFT (or wherever the Uncompetition Commission is based) been interviewing? Did they actually speak with any National Account Managers, Product Managers... Shopkeepers even?
The only faintest hint of silver lining is the creation of a supermarket ombudsman, who'll accept confidential complaints. But will suppliers really dare to clipe on their customers? These big bullies treat their fags badly enough as it is... the thought of being caught speaking to the Head out of class doesn't bear... thinking of.
But we need this problem sorted like we need more Police on the beat. If you've been around for any length of time you'll know there are fewer shops, fewer brands, fewer ads and fewer promotions than there have ever been. (Well, probably since the Sixties, anyway.) And I can't find anybody who's pleased about this. The supermarkets have a simple retort: things are cheaper than they have ever been.
I think it's more a case of 'the junk we buy' is cheaper than it's ever been.
However, maybe this rocketing oil price and Eastern industrial revolution, combined with worries about global warming, will be a blessing in disguise. If we all make fewer car journeys we'll all shop less at supermarkets. That could be the beginning of the job that the Uncompetition Commission won't do for us.
