Having previously spoken to some Somerfield staff, I have also been collecting some of the thoughts of those working at Rhuthun/Ruthin Co-op, on the impending arrival of Tesco.
“We don’t really know what will happen. Maybe we can hold out for 12 months or two years. No one can compete against Tesco’s prices”. More optimistically, this member of staff added, “But some customers have said that they will still shop here because of Co-op’s fair trade policy.”
Of Tesco’s arrival, another said, “I’ll have a quiet life. Seriously, it is a worry. You can’t compete against a company like Tesco”. Indicating that staff are concerned, the worker stated that there was to be a meeting the following day to examine strategies Co-op might use.
A third was as non-committal. “We’ll have to see, we just don’t know”. Not knowing featured strongly, as did the notion that Tesco was pretty much impregnable. I suspect, rather, they did know, they did realise but are in denial.
A fourth felt that it would be Somerfield and not Co-op that would suffer at the hands of Tesco. “We realise there will be a loss of business especially in the first month but we think it may come back.” Positive thinking!
A fifth, smiling by way of an answer as they mostly did, simply said, “Haven’t a clue” and carried on passing items across the scanner. When I remarked that I didn’t expect Tesco to stock a particular item she was passing through, she added, “I expect there will be quite a few items we stock and Tesco doesn’t”. Judging by Tesco’s size, she’s probably wrong.
Another was asked whether he was ready for Tesco. “Dunno. Haven’t a clue”, came the first somewhat niggled response to my questioning.
Then came the comic, using humour to make the best of a bad situation. How very British. In response to the question about the recent resurfacing, “I like your car park. Is that something to do with Tesco?” there came a witty reply, “Yes, it’s so we can roll out the welcome mat.” Continuing, “Co-op does have a contingency plan. It’s called a bulldozer.”
“We don’t really know what will happen. Maybe we can hold out for 12 months or two years. No one can compete against Tesco’s prices”. More optimistically, this member of staff added, “But some customers have said that they will still shop here because of Co-op’s fair trade policy.”
Of Tesco’s arrival, another said, “I’ll have a quiet life. Seriously, it is a worry. You can’t compete against a company like Tesco”. Indicating that staff are concerned, the worker stated that there was to be a meeting the following day to examine strategies Co-op might use.
A third was as non-committal. “We’ll have to see, we just don’t know”. Not knowing featured strongly, as did the notion that Tesco was pretty much impregnable. I suspect, rather, they did know, they did realise but are in denial.
A fourth felt that it would be Somerfield and not Co-op that would suffer at the hands of Tesco. “We realise there will be a loss of business especially in the first month but we think it may come back.” Positive thinking!
A fifth, smiling by way of an answer as they mostly did, simply said, “Haven’t a clue” and carried on passing items across the scanner. When I remarked that I didn’t expect Tesco to stock a particular item she was passing through, she added, “I expect there will be quite a few items we stock and Tesco doesn’t”. Judging by Tesco’s size, she’s probably wrong.
Another was asked whether he was ready for Tesco. “Dunno. Haven’t a clue”, came the first somewhat niggled response to my questioning.
Then came the comic, using humour to make the best of a bad situation. How very British. In response to the question about the recent resurfacing, “I like your car park. Is that something to do with Tesco?” there came a witty reply, “Yes, it’s so we can roll out the welcome mat.” Continuing, “Co-op does have a contingency plan. It’s called a bulldozer.”
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Tesco