'We want Asda in Cinderford' say protest marchers

“@thomas1996

Ethics do matter to many shoppers, hence the increasing success of the Fair Trade Foundation and the increasing influence of animal welfare on shoopers habits.

Best value instead of lowest price is always the most effective way to buy, and there is no point in buying bread at a lower price if it goes stale much earlier. You just end up with wasted bread and a higher cost per usable slice.

If you really want "quality fresh food and a nicer store", don't go to any old store as the advert says go to.... The prices of basics are the same as Tescos and last a lot longer.

Your slogan "Well done people of Cinderford" seems a bit extravagant. The town has a population a little over 8,000 and I there were only 9 protesters in the photograph. Where were the other 7991?”

“eyeopener, many people don't really care about all that but DO care about low prices, better quality fresh food and a nicer store, larger choice of food and many new jobs for school leavers and older people.

Anyway what about British workers? This week Co-op cancelled a huge contract with Hovis resulting in 2 large Premier Foods bakeries to close, one in Birmingham of which most of it's production was for the UK-wide Co-op contract. No doubt Co-op wanted lower prices but would it mean't lower prices on the shelves or an even higher profit margin for them?

It's a scandal what Co-op charges for most of it's groceries, if you look at the things on the shelves that aren't on offer in dump bins, around 20% to 50% more.

Well done people of Cinderford.”

“Many people refuse to shop at ASDA/Walmart because of the conditions its Chinese workers have to endure. Some have committed suicide. the US National Labor Committee found workers for Wal-Mart suppliers in China's Guangdong Province working 130 hours per week for an
average 16.5 cents an hour.

In America its parent company Walmart is known for its predatory pricing in small American communities, displacing small independent stores, until finally only Walmart and an empty town centre remain. A survey of Wal-Mart's impact in the first 12 years of its operation in the US state of Iowa found that 50% of clothing stores, 42% of variety stores, 26% of department stores and 30% of hardware stores had all closed.

Its American stores are also known for their anti-union policies, and discriminatory behaviour towards women employees or 'associates' as they term them.

n 2004,Asda put forward a massive £400 million blueprint for an expansion which will cost an average of 276 jobs for every new supermarket, according to the British Retail Forum.15 Unlike
local businesses, which reinvest profits in the local community, profits made at Wal-Mart
stores are flown back to Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville,Arkansas every night.

ASDA's goods are cheap for a reason. Do you really want to be part of that?”

“Tesco tried to stop ASDA in Cheltenham-and failed. Good luck Cinderford-and shame on you, over priced Co-op!”