Keep it Local and Save our Small Shops

There are growing concerns that unless shopping habits change, the great British high street will disappear. Friends of the Earth wants shoppers around the country to Shop Local First and says that by switching our shopping allegiances, we can also help in the fight against climate change.

The campaign has been launched ahead of the Office of Fair Trading final report on its enquiry into supermarket dominance in the market place.

Small shops are currently struggling to survive due to the power of the big supermarkets, with more than 2000 independent shops going out of business in 2004. The problem comes from the growing power of the supermarkets, with the four biggest already controlling over three quarters of the grocery market, with Tesco alone taking 30 per cent.

Friends of the Earth supermarket campaigner Sandra Bell said: "Local shops are being put of business on a daily basis because of the growing power of supermarkets. Popping to your local shop for a pint of milk will no longer be an option unless more shoppers change the way they shop. If we all Shop Local First, then we can help save our local shops, boost the local economy and also help do our bit to tackle climate change."

As reported in last month's newsletter, an all party group of MPs has given a stark warning that many independent shops will go out of business by 2015 unless action is taken now to curb the power of the biggest supermarkets. Tesco recently announced plans to improve its environmental credentials, but Friends of the Earth says that shopping locally is still a better option, especially if you leave the car at home and buy locally-sourced food.

Friends of the Earth said there are great benefits from shopping locally, including:

• Local shops are more likely to provide local food that hasn't been flown halfway across the world;

• Local shops offer a much more personal service than big supermarkets;

• Local shops keep money circulating in the local area so they support other local businesses;

• Local shops and street markets often offer better value than big supermarkets for fresh fruit and vegetables;

• Local shops are more energy efficient than huge superstores - it would take more than 60 greengrocers to match the carbon dioxide emissions from just one average superstore;

• A diverse range of local shops provides more choice than one big supermarket.

FoE also wants the Competition Commission to implement measures which will redress the balance between the big supermarkets and local shops - but warned that if consumers waited for the Competition Commission to act, it could be too late.

• Local groups around the country will be promoting the benefits of small shops and will work with local shopkeepers to develop local shopping promotions, such as loyalty cards, discounts, posters and local shop directories. Does Ealing FoE want to be involved in this?