from Ashwin Dave, Vikas Buying Group, Bromley, Kent
from Alastair Smyth, Limavady, Northern Ireland
Sir; re Londis chief executive Graham White’s allegation in a national newspaper that Londis does not have a future as an independent entity.
Londis has almost doubled turnover over the last few years, so it cannot be as bad as made out by White. It was an act of abject submission when he declared Londis members were better off buying their beans via Tesco than through Londis.
With a turnover of almost £500m, surely Londis should be in a better position to procure more competitive terms? This inability seems to be the board’s failure, especially as Londis is a member of Nisa whose turnover runs into billions of pounds.
Is White suggesting that even Nisa’s extra purchasing clout is redundant against the might of the multiples?
While not many outlets can sell at Tesco prices, the corner shops have always fared well despite disparities in pricing.
Has the board ever considered joining with other symbol and
buying groups to stand up to the multiples? The convenience sector may have a future if the players projected a united front that MPs and the OFT could not ignore.
If others in the independent sectors follow Londis’ lead, one day every corner store will either be a Tesco Express or a Sainsbury Local.
Now, that certainly would be as boring as a can of beans (Tesco’s or any other).
Sir; May I urge the members of Londis to go with Dudley Ramsden’s invitation and join Nisa (The Grocer, February 7, p10). This would surely give them the best of all worlds.
First, they would still retain their assets within Londis and save their directors taking a large part of any sale proceeds.
Second, they move closer to the main buying organisation responsible for their improved margins in recent years, ie Nisa.
Third, if at any time in the future they individually or collectively wished to join Musgrave or Budgens, that would still be an option.
Those who feel they want to belong to a large professional organisation, that is what Nisa is. Don’t forget Budgens, Musgrave, Booths and hundreds of traders, and thousands of jobs have been saved, this last 25 years, thanks to Nisa.
I was a member of Nisa for 20 years until I retired. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
from Alastair Smyth, Limavady, Northern Ireland
Sir; re Londis chief executive Graham White’s allegation in a national newspaper that Londis does not have a future as an independent entity.
Londis has almost doubled turnover over the last few years, so it cannot be as bad as made out by White. It was an act of abject submission when he declared Londis members were better off buying their beans via Tesco than through Londis.
With a turnover of almost £500m, surely Londis should be in a better position to procure more competitive terms? This inability seems to be the board’s failure, especially as Londis is a member of Nisa whose turnover runs into billions of pounds.
Is White suggesting that even Nisa’s extra purchasing clout is redundant against the might of the multiples?
While not many outlets can sell at Tesco prices, the corner shops have always fared well despite disparities in pricing.
Has the board ever considered joining with other symbol and
buying groups to stand up to the multiples? The convenience sector may have a future if the players projected a united front that MPs and the OFT could not ignore.
If others in the independent sectors follow Londis’ lead, one day every corner store will either be a Tesco Express or a Sainsbury Local.
Now, that certainly would be as boring as a can of beans (Tesco’s or any other).
Sir; May I urge the members of Londis to go with Dudley Ramsden’s invitation and join Nisa (The Grocer, February 7, p10). This would surely give them the best of all worlds.
First, they would still retain their assets within Londis and save their directors taking a large part of any sale proceeds.
Second, they move closer to the main buying organisation responsible for their improved margins in recent years, ie Nisa.
Third, if at any time in the future they individually or collectively wished to join Musgrave or Budgens, that would still be an option.
Those who feel they want to belong to a large professional organisation, that is what Nisa is. Don’t forget Budgens, Musgrave, Booths and hundreds of traders, and thousands of jobs have been saved, this last 25 years, thanks to Nisa.
I was a member of Nisa for 20 years until I retired. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
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