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2017-04-17T09:50:36.000000Z
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The big supermarkets are winning the battle of the high street, and are seen as the bad guys for doing so. But could they be the key to successful regeneration?
The big supermarkets are winning the battle of the high street, and are seen as the bad guys for doing so.
But could they be the key to successful regeneration?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the 18th century philosopher, wrote that "man is born free and is everywhere in chains". The modern variation reads: "Man is born free and is everywhere in chain stores", and perfectly sums up the negative light in which supermarkets are seen by the community, environmental and "small is beautiful" camps.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the 18th century philosopher, wrote that "man is born free and is everywhere in chains".
The modern variation reads: "Man is born free and is everywhere in chain stores", and perfectly sums up the negative light in which supermarkets are seen by the community, environmental and "small is beautiful" camps.
Supermarket growth has certainly occurred alongside a spectacular decline in independent shops. A report on small shops by an all-party parliamentary group has noted that, by 2015, independent convenience stores and grocers are "unlikely to survive". Such closure can mean some people, particularly poor and older people, are without accessible shops.
Supermarket growth has certainly occurred alongside a spectacular decline in independent shops.
A report on small shops by an all-party parliamentary group has noted that, by 2015, independent convenience stores and grocers are "unlikely to survive".
Such closure can mean some people, particularly poor and older people, are without accessible shops.
But are supermarkets -- and their customers -- to blame?
But are supermarkets -- and their customers -- to blame?
Some small firm closures will presumably be due to poor management, crime against business and local area decline. Then there are the business rates, which favour the supermarkets over small shops. And while supermarkets have been accused by the Competition Commission of loss-leading and squeezing suppliers, such behaviour is bullish rather than illegal; the product of intense competition between supermarkets that would still exist if these particular practices ceased.
Some small firm closures will presumably be due to poor management, crime against business and local area decline.
Then there are the business rates, which favour the supermarkets over small shops.
And while supermarkets have been accused by the Competition Commission of loss-leading and squeezing suppliers, such behaviour is bullish rather than illegal; the product of intense competition between supermarkets that would still exist if these particular practices ceased.
[注：]这一部分其实看得不是特别明白，有以下几个问题：
1. Then there are the business rates, which favour the supermarkets over small shops. 这里的favor究竟指的是对大型超市的税收更高呢，还是更低呢？
2. such behaviour is bullish rather than illegal中的such behavior究竟指的是什么？
3. the product of intense competition between supermarkets that would still exist if these particular practices ceased. 这里明显不是一整句话，这部分是否也是跟在前面的such behavior is的后面的？
4. the product of intense competition究竟指的什么
5. these particular practices指的又是什么
The key to delivering both low prices and high quality as well as thriving and sustainable communities is to ensure that retail activity is present in all communities of any size that want it, and for it to be present in sufficient numbers for there to be a degree of competition. This can be achieved by a combination of assisting existing firms in areas without supermarkets and by local firms sharing training, security, marketing and other costs. In poor areas, environmental improvements and security measures can help level the playing field with wealthier areas, while avoiding direct subsidy to firms.
The key to delivering both low prices and high quality as well as thriving and sustainable communities is to ensure that retail activity is present in all communities of any size that want it, and for it to be present in sufficient numbers for there to be a degree of competition.
This can be achieved by a combination of assisting existing firms in areas without supermarkets and by local firms sharing training, security, marketing and other costs.
In poor areas, environmental improvements and security measures can help level the playing field with wealthier areas, while avoiding direct subsidy to firms.
In areas where there are no businesses and local retail is wanted, efforts might be made to encourage new community-based retailers to set up to meet local needs. Residents and businesses in Ibstock, Leicestershire, for example, have set up a store that doubles as a community hub.
In areas where there are no businesses and local retail is wanted, efforts might be made to encourage new community-based retailers to set up to meet local needs.
Residents and businesses in Ibstock, Leicestershire, for example, have set up a store that doubles as a community hub.
Another tack is to encourage supermarkets (even the convenience store variety) into such areas. Techniques are emerging to identify areas that should be able to sustain a certain type and size of store. A Business in the Community project, underserved markets, has led the way here (the first outcome being a Tesco store in Oldham). In Leeds, Tesco's involvement in the Seacroft Partnership job guarantee programme has had some excellent results in training and employing local residents for its store -- a model it has rolled out more widely.
Another tack is to encourage supermarkets (even the convenience store variety) into such areas.
Techniques are emerging to identify areas that should be able to sustain a certain type and size of store.
A Business in the Community project, underserved markets, has led the way here (the first outcome being a Tesco store in Oldham).
In Leeds, Tesco's involvement in the Seacroft Partnership job guarantee programme has had some excellent results in training and employing local residents for its store -- a model it has rolled out more widely.
But perhaps community purchasing power is too weak to even sustain any kind of store. In this case the need is instead for concerted regeneration efforts such as mixed-income housing, enterprise development and efforts to keep money circulating locally. Some local shops can also co-exist with, and benefit from, supermarkets which, after all, have a vested interest in a healthy local economy. Last year, Asda's store in Huntly, Aberdeen, launched a scheme to assist local retailers that included featuring local produce; handing out maps to shops and giving advice on merchandising, window displays and IT. The company has also led the way on hosting farmers' markets.
But perhaps community purchasing power is too weak to even sustain any kind of store.
In this case the need is instead for concerted regeneration efforts such as mixed-income housing, enterprise development and efforts to keep money circulating locally.
Some local shops can also co-exist with, and benefit from, supermarkets which, after all, have a vested interest in a healthy local economy.
Last year, Asda's store in Huntly, Aberdeen, launched a scheme to assist local retailers that included featuring local produce; handing out maps to shops and giving advice on merchandising, window displays and IT.
The company has also led the way on hosting farmers' markets.
And now some developers, such as Modus, are starting to talk of "affordable retail", based on the affordable housing model but without statutory requirements, on the back of supermarket developments. This would be managed space for business in or near the development.
And now some developers, such as Modus, are starting to talk of "affordable retail", based on the affordable housing model but without statutory requirements, on the back of supermarket developments.
This would be managed space for business in or near the development.
Concern with shop closures is not just about a desire for local retail -- the anti-supermarket lobby stresses that closures can also erode local community spirit. But if such spirit is so great, why weren't shops that closed valued more by locals prior to closure? In the poorest areas, it may not be that people don't value having a local shop, but rather that they simply cannot afford to ignore the lower prices available through a short bus ride to s supermarket. In wealthy areas they may only miss the shop when it is gone.
Concern with shop closures is not just about a desire for local retail -- the anti-supermarket lobby stresses that closures can also erode local community spirit.
But if such spirit is so great, why weren't shops that closed valued more by locals prior to closure?
In the poorest areas, it may not be that people don't value having a local shop, but rather that they simply cannot afford to ignore the lower prices available through a short bus ride to s supermarket.
In wealthy areas they may only miss the shop when it is gone.
So can the benefits offered by the big-is-beautiful approach ever co-exist with the small-is-beautiful community feel of an independent local shop? One option would be to marry the supermarkets' buying power with community ownership of supermarkets and the premises in which they are located. Such "regeneration stores" would see interested residents undergoing an intensive period working alongside supermarket trainers -- the end point being an organised and skilled group of residents in a community enterprise ready to assume management.
So can the benefits offered by the big-is-beautiful approach ever co-exist with the small-is-beautiful community feel of an independent local shop?
One option would be to marry the supermarkets' buying power with community ownership of supermarkets and the premises in which they are located.
Such "regeneration stores" would see interested residents undergoing an intensive period working alongside supermarket trainers -- the end point being an organised and skilled group of residents in a community enterprise ready to assume management.
There could even be a share in the supermarket for all local households. For the supermarkets this might, for example, lead to increased productivity plus reduced theft from their stores. For the community there should be social dividends of real community cohesion and active citizenship.
There could even be a share in the supermarket for all local households.
For the supermarkets this might, for example, lead to increased productivity plus reduced theft from their stores.
For the community there should be social dividends of real community cohesion and active citizenship.
There are also environmental concerns around shop closures: shopping parades and high street vacancies can convey a sense of decay. This is compounded by the fact that supermarkets are often architecturally unimaginative and can lack the intimacy of the neighbourhood store. Against this, some supermarkets deserve praise for new developments that are in the vanguard of energy efficient and architecturally interesting design. Sainsbury's Greenwich Peninsula foodstore is one example. And standard frontages may be seen less in future -- Tesco is promising bespoke shop fronts for new Express convenience stores and to step up its efforts to consult communities about new outlets. Regeneration stores' local involvement means local builders and even local building materials could be key aspects.
There are also environmental concerns around shop closures: shopping parades and high street vacancies can convey a sense of decay.
This is compounded by the fact that supermarkets are often architecturally unimaginative and can lack the intimacy of the neighbourhood store.
Against this, some supermarkets deserve praise for new developments that are in the vanguard of energy efficient and architecturally interesting design.
And standard frontages may be seen less in future -- Tesco is promising bespoke shop fronts for new Express convenience stores and to step up its efforts to consult communities about new outlets.
Regeneration stores' local involvement means local builders and even local building materials could be key aspects.
Too often the debates between supermarkets and their detractors have seemed like battle liners. The need now is for communication lines to open. The anti-supermarket lobby needs to acknowledge the progress being made by the supermarkets and supermarkets, in turn, can try to experiment with stores that are deeply embedded, socially and environmentally, in the communities in which they are located.
Too often the debates between supermarkets and their detractors have seemed like battle liners.
The need now is for communication lines to open.
The anti-supermarket lobby needs to acknowledge the progress being made by the supermarkets and supermarkets, in turn, can try to experiment with stores that are deeply embedded, socially and environmentally, in the communities in which they are located.