The Tesco Town mentality

Why the air of surprise and alarm in Becky Sharpe's article regarding the development of "Tesco Towns" (January 23)?

Supermarket chains are very sophisticated capitalist organisations. They seek to develop a range of outlets - very large hypermarket-style stores in town and city centres and edge of centre, and smaller convenience stores on the the arterial routes in from the suburbs, in order to maximise the market share of retailing they can control.

They acquire vacant sites to frustrate competitors and enjoy the fruits of soaring land values.

They advertise heavily, indulge in cut throat competition and stock as large as possible range of goods in order to secure brand loyalty and persuade consumers they can buy everything under one roof.

Because they have bigger budgets than all but the largest local authorities, they often win complex and expensive battles over planning permission.

All this, of course, is about increasing the profits of the shareholders. No matter if small independent businesses go to the wall, if high streets become increasingly anonymous and hot food takeaways dominate suburban shopping parades, or if sites like Raglan Street and the Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton are sterilised for years - none of this is the concern of supermarkets.

Government could, of course, use the Competition Commission to curb supermarket domination and monopoly. But do you think any of the present political parties would take them on? No, me neither.

Alternatively, shoppers might turn away to patronise market stalls and the butchers, bakers and other independent traders in the high street - but I fear such a reversal in consumer habits in unlikely. Tesco Town is here to stay.

Tom Dent, Cannock Road, Wolverhampton.