Supermarket Boss Blames Indie Shopkeepers
“Many shoppers do not have the time to potter between the butcher, the baker and grocer,” were some of the comments recently written by Justin King, the head of Sainsbury’s
Preparing for a speech due to be held this week at the Guildhall, London, the boss of Sainsbury's has claimed British high streets are suffering because independent retailers are not adapting their businesses like supermarket chains.
Some of his leaked notes due to be announced at the City Food Lecture said, “Where high streets have declined, I do not believe that the blame can be laid at the door of supermarkets.
“Supermarkets have reflected society and changes in society. Many shoppers do not have the time to potter between the butcher, the baker and grocer. … What I think we need to do is... be brave enough to shrink the high street and allow empty shops to be converted for other uses such as residential where there is over-capacity,” he wrote.
He also cited our high streets as being a “poor second” to out-of-town shopping centres, and that to avoid leaving shops empty, they should be converted into houses and even classrooms.
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