Food store chain should support other local businesses

IT was reported was reported that the Co-operative Group had traded well over the Christmas period (Yorkshire Post, January 16). Bradford-based chief executive Peter Marks put this down to the business focusing on quality and value, with its stores conveniently located in local communities.

What a pity therefore that the Co-op does not support other businesses in those local areas somewhat better.

For example, in my local Co-op I am unable to purchase either Seabrook crisps or Saltaire Blonde beer, both produced locally in Bradford.

More support for local companies such as these really should be the order of the day.

From: Stephen Nichols, Leyburn Avenue, Lightcliffe, Halifax.

WHAT a wonderful article regarding Peter Marks, the CEO of the CIS (Yorkshire Post, January 15) on being a local Bradford lad, starting at the bottom, rising to the top, leading the Co-op to a higher level and receiving an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

Mr Marks, we are given to understand, is to retire in May this year, but I wonder if he could be persuaded to take over Morrisons for a few years and bring that supermarket back to its former glory when under Sir Ken Morrison, another Bradford lad.

I wonder if any of your readers can still remember their Mother’s dividend number at the Co-op? Ours was 12208!

From: John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon, Bradford.

I FIRST started shopping at Morrisons over 65 years ago when my mother used to send me to buy huge tins of unusual tropical fruit from their Rawson market stall.

Over the years, they became my family’s main supplier on 
the basis of wholesome quality and unpretentious value for money.

About 18 months ago, the whole ethos of the stores began to change. I felt that my choice was being manipulated and they began to ape Waitrose, not realising that if I wanted the Waitrose style, I would go to Waitrose and not to an unbalanced imitator.

The last straw was the transfer of the personnel department to India. If, as I believe was the case, this UK function was inefficient, then the onus should have been on senior management to put it right and not destroy the jobs of those workers whom they had incorrectly led.

I now only go to Morrisons when passing with the sole purpose of buying their “Best” gin.

From: Mrs Jennifer Bookbinder, Cottingley Gardens, Leeds.

I WONDER why your correspondent Bill Heppell (Yorkshire Post, January 16) objected so strongly to using a self-service checkout in Morrisons supermarket? He dumped his shopping and 
left. They are simple and easy to 
use, but I have noticed some people seem to regress to their childhood when faced with 
them. I wonder why?

From: John Eoin Douglas, Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.

WHILE it is very sad for employees of Jessops and HMV to lose their jobs, the loss of these retail outlets really needs to be put into perspective.

If internet traders can supply goods cheaper and more conveniently than town centre shops (with all their parking problems deliberately engineered by local councils), then these dinosaur enterprises will inevitably become extinct.

Perhaps if HMV had not alienated customers like myself by deciding to no longer stock traditional 78’s, I might have been persuaded to continue shopping there.