The neverending creep of Tesco

exiled in essex · Post by **exiled in essex** » Mon 18 Oct, 2010 11:01 am

I have hated Tesco with a passion for many years - and so I have successfully boycotted them for many years. I know my one-woman boycott makes no difference whatsoever but it makes me feel better!I will not set foot in Tesco - my nearest supermarket is the big Tesco Extra at Seacroft but I go to Asda instead. Tesco are not even the cheapest of the 'big four' supermarkets, Asda are so I don't understand why so many flock to Tesco like it's the best thing ever. It's not. I do also use local shops - Wilsons in Crossgates is one of them, and my parents pick things up for me when they go to Garforth every Saturday. When I worked in Leeds, I used to get my fruit and veg from the market which was way cheaper, but I was lucky in that I had a free car parking space with my job so didn't have to cart it all home on the bus!I noticed a post earlier on this thread where someone mentioned there is a Tesco on Phuket - well, there's also one on Koh Samui called a 'Tesco Lotus'. I could have cried when I saw it - is nowhere safe from these bullies?

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Mon 18 Oct, 2010 1:05 pm

exiled in essex wrote: I have hated Tesco with a passion for many years - and so I have successfully boycotted them for many years. I know my one-woman boycott makes no difference whatsoever but it makes me feel better!I will not set foot in Tesco - my nearest supermarket is the big Tesco Extra at Seacroft but I go to Asda instead. Tesco are not even the cheapest of the 'big four' supermarkets, Asda are so I don't understand why so many flock to Tesco like it's the best thing ever. It's not. I do also use local shops - Wilsons in Crossgates is one of them, and my parents pick things up for me when they go to Garforth every Saturday. When I worked in Leeds, I used to get my fruit and veg from the market which was way cheaper, but I was lucky in that I had a free car parking space with my job so didn't have to cart it all home on the bus!I noticed a post earlier on this thread where someone mentioned there is a Tesco on Phuket - well, there's also one on Koh Samui called a 'Tesco Lotus'. I could have cried when I saw it - is nowhere safe from these bullies? I note you say that you choose to use Asda instead well how do you think they operate to acheive the prices they do? "Biggest" must be baddest eh?My biggest beef with supermarkests is that they could easily be cheaper still by not rejecting two out of every three fruit and veg as they don't look right and the stupid level of pachaging on many items. As a consumer I don't care if the apples i buy are of irregular size I just want them to taste nice and as for packaging, I'm tempted to leave it at the checkout.

exiled in essex · Post by **exiled in essex** » Mon 18 Oct, 2010 1:33 pm

I know that none of them are angels, but my reasons for going to Asda instead of the others is that it's originally a Leeds company - although I know it's not any more.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 31 Mar, 2011 9:18 pm

Just when you thought they couldn't possibly squeeze any more stores into Leeds....http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 1_3236355A supermarket giant has announced plans to build flats, houses and a new store on a derelict mill site in Leeds.The proposals for the site at Stonebridge Mills in Farnley include 30 flats within retained mill buildings and 16 affordable family homes.Under the regeneration proposals, a Tesco supermarket would also be built on land near the mill, which would create 400 local jobs.A two-day public exhibition is being held at West Leeds City Learning Centre in Wortley to allow residents to view the plans.Tesco representatives are attending the event on April 18 and 19, between 2pm and 7pm. Deborah Hayeems, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said: “We are very excited about our proposals for Stonebridge Mills which would create hundreds of local jobs, bring our great value supermarket shopping and new affordable homes to the area, and secure the long-term future of an important historical site.”The chain has also been battling rivals Asda over planning permission for a site close to Middleton District Shopping Centre.A new store would create 350 new jobs – and despite Leeds City Council granting planning permission to Asda, Tesco resubmitted their application last October after claiming Asda had failed to meet agreed commitments. Stonebridge Mills was built at the start of the 19th century and operated as a woollen mill. At the consultation event, Tesco will also be seeking ideas from local people about how they could record the site’s history. Mrs Hayeems added: “Stonebridge Mills was once the heart of the local community, and our proposals would regenerate the mill complex and provide a significant boost to the local economy. “At our consultation event we want to hear the views of people living in the area to make sure we can put together the best possible scheme.”Tesco has confirmed that a planning application will be submitted to Leeds City Council once the consultation process has finished.This of course is in addition to the Tesco already open at Bramley and the planned new Tesco superstore for Armley.Lots of soothing and positive sounding noise from Tesco about community consultation and regeneration, but effectively all they will be doing is sticking another unnecessary supermarket where it is going to cause traffic chaos on the Ring Road (experience shows that the Tesco at Seacroft has caused no end of traffic problems, despite a traffic survey as part of the planning process saying it wouldn't). And the store is going to create 400 local jobs? 400? Really? How?Funny though isn't it, that when Morrisons (who had a store at Bramley) bought Safeway (who had a store in Stanningley ) the competition people made them sell one...which is now a Tesco!

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 31 Mar, 2011 10:36 pm

raveydavey wrote: JAnd the store is going to create 400 local jobs? 400? Really? How? It will be 400 p/t jobs at an average of just under 10 hours per week as opposed to 100 f/t jobs at just under 40 hours a week. Opening 6.00am to 10pm Mon-Fri and 6 hours on Sunday probably need that sort of coverage.Yes Tesco and Asda do seem to be somewhat immune from the competition restrictions placed on Morrisons

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 01 Apr, 2011 12:08 am

Wouldn't be surprised if they re-badged it as Hillards.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Fri 01 Apr, 2011 5:34 pm

10 or 15 hours a week is vital for some second jobbers fitting it around school hours. It's below the tax threshold so puts up to £390 a month into the family coffers without the need for childcare. I know people with full time jobs who don't clear that after childcare costs for two or three kids.I'm fed up with Tesco bashing, it's just a successful business. Since when was that a crime? Don't tell me that the saintly corner shop man (who didn't employ anyone or open late) didn't wang the odd £50 in his pocket and not put it through the books. Cash business = tax fraud I guarantee it.I wish Tesco's would start opening pubs too so they can sell you a tin of beer for 50p instead of the £3 a pot it seems to have crept beyond now.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Fri 01 Apr, 2011 5:38 pm

biggee99 wrote: Just how much tax do tesco pay i bet not a lot, so they are no better than the corner shop who can't dodge the tax system and pay there way??????????? A lot of VAT is generated mate, a lot of income tax, a lot of NI contribs, a lot of duty on ale and fags and fuel, a lot of road fund licence for the trucks, a lot of business rates (where they don't do deals).Tesco's may avoid some areas where you feelt hey should pay but the Gov do their sums, on balance they pay boat loads.

biggee99 · Post by **biggee99** » Sat 02 Apr, 2011 10:36 am

Reginal Perrin wrote: biggee99 wrote: Just how much tax do tesco pay i bet not a lot, so they are no better than the corner shop who can't dodge the tax system and pay there way??????????? A lot of VAT is generated mate, a lot of income tax, a lot of NI contribs, a lot of duty on ale and fags and fuel, a lot of road fund licence for the trucks, a lot of business rates (where they don't do deals).Tesco's may avoid some areas where you feelt hey should pay but the Gov do their sums, on balance they pay boat loads. Yes i see a lot of money paid put by the public, the profit they makenot a lot of tax paid on that, tesco is one hell of a land buyer around the UK that's where the profits go Tax paid of profits Very little here in the UK.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 03 Apr, 2011 6:38 pm

Reginal Perrin wrote: 10 or 15 hours a week is vital for some second jobbers fitting it around school hours. It's below the tax threshold so puts up to £390 a month into the family coffers without the need for childcare. I know people with full time jobs who don't clear that after childcare costs for two or three kids.I'm fed up with Tesco bashing, it's just a successful business. Since when was that a crime? Don't tell me that the saintly corner shop man (who didn't employ anyone or open late) didn't wang the odd £50 in his pocket and not put it through the books. Cash business = tax fraud I guarantee it.I wish Tesco's would start opening pubs too so they can sell you a tin of beer for 50p instead of the £3 a pot it seems to have crept beyond now. I don't have a problem with Tesco being profitable, although their alleged tax avoidance schemes are another matter. Ultimately people are free to shop wherever they like and it seems that a good number of people are happy with Tesco's offerings.What I do object to is them seemingly being exempt from any sort of planning / competition censure and their constant desire to open more and more shops in a bid to stifle what remains in the way of competition.Why are other large supermarket chains limited to the number of stores in any one area and forced to sell off branches to ensure a level playing field (Morrisons, forced to sell stores at Garforth and Bramley which are now both Tescos, and more recently Asda) whilst Tesco just buy up land where they please and slap another superstore there?Tesco already have 20 stores within a six mile radius of City Square (according to their own website), plus the planned superstores at Armley, Beeston and now Wortley. Plus they are still fighting for permission to build a store at Middleton instead of the Asda store already granted planning.If things are allowed to carry on like this, do you think Tesco will be so generous with their offers once they have quashed all the other supermarkets?