West side supermarket?
Fair enough, it is a bit of a bind to get to the supermarket if you live on the West side of Swansea (though there are plenty of independents around to choose from). Currently you really only have the option of Sainsbury’s, which, last time I visited, no longer does a particularly inspiring range above the offer that Tesco provides.
The Tesco city centre site is, well, I think I would rather starve than try to park, and shopping is even worse. So what does that leave, Somerfield in Mumbles, and, mmmm.. nothing! Unless you venture to the Enterprise Park and you then have the choice of 3 hypermarkets. Oh yea I must mention the other Tesco parking phenomenon that is Fforestfach!
So Asda is tyring to fill the gap by opening in Gorseinon, and Tesco is angling at Pontarddulais (what is the deal with Tesco and Swansea -I have never seen so many Tesco’s in one place?), and over 5,000 people have petitioned against it. Considering this is supposed to be the graveyard of ambition, that’s a fairly vociferous objection!
I’d be happy to place a bet on the reason that Mumbles and Sketty maintain their individual retailers is because of the lack of large supermarkets. And what a joy it is to be able to stroll from shop to shop picking fresh, local (and most of the time cheaper) produce. I have to say though I struggle to do this often, as these independants tend to be closed by the time we finish our working day. But when I see the alternative that is (not) on offer where I currently live on the East side, I’m glad that 5,000 people have placed their objections.
Tell us what you think about the supermarket plans for West Swansea by leaving your comments!
June 21st, 2007 at 8:05 pm
sorry to shatter your illusions but Tesco is coming to sketty
June 21st, 2007 at 9:44 pm
The more people become complacent and resist the fanatical expansion of the big 5 supermarkets, then the more of these aweful monstrocities we will have to endure on our skyline, and as a result the many more smaller quality businesses will close for good, including butchers, bakers, bakers fruit and veg shops anong others (delicatessens, herb & health food shops, the list is endless), many of these family businesses who have been in existence for decades.
With the increasing importance of food miles in the war on carbon footprints, and the campaign for healthier tastier local, seasonal food, there’s only one type of shop I would recommend, the small local one. If you vote with your feet and decide to shop in one of the big 5 retailers then you’re contributing to the demise of the small quality retailer.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 am
The Tesco that is coming to Sketty will be a Tesco Express if I’m correct. I have to say that, personally, I’m not completely against this development.
Some might think this strange, but Sketty Cross has been slowly withering over the last 5 years, with boarded up shops and the like. Anyway, I haven’t yet seen a Tesco Express that has managed to stock a wide enough range to compete with quality suppliers, as it doesn’t act as a one stop shop for everything in life. I certainly don’t think that this will affect delicatessens, and I’m not sure any size supermarket will ever compete with this specialist area of retail, for real foodies anyway.
And I will definitely be buying my sausages from the butcher around the corner!
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
No, no, no to any more supermarkets in Swansea. Our complacency simply cannot continue. I closed my award winning food business last year as I was not willing to take the risk of competing against the “giants” by opening a delicatessen in either Sketty or the Uplands.
Just read “Shopped - the shocking power of British supermarkets” by Joanna Blythman (and no, of course it’s not available in Tesco’s, but is easily available on Amazon) to get an eye-opening and thoroughly researched account of how British supermarkets are depriving us of our freedom of choice at a scandalous rate.
Britain is the only country in Europe which is so complacent about this. Other European countries protect small food businesses, and continue to do so.
Well done Tony, for your comments website.
And while we’re at it, could we campaign for local as opposed to extensive air miles sourced “organic” produce?
Please keep on campaigning, and why not include a campaign to the new P.Minister while we’re at it. I’m more than willing to give details of how much money I ploughed into a food business than after only a year, couldn’t continue to compete.
Good luck and count on my support.
Martha Clarke
(formerly Gower Gourmet)
August 10th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article West side supermarket?, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
January 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
This new tesco express will starve the spar supermarket opposite of customers, and another shop will be boarded up and turned into a betting office. However, tesco has great prices, and hopefully better than spar.