Sir; IGD chief executive Joanne Denney is to be congratulated on her "challenging ageism" address ( The Grocer, October 14, p80). Unfortunately, her words will fall on deaf ears despite the fact that the new economy will depend upon the over 60s. I can now regrettably claim to have been rejected, without even an interview, by every major food retailing multiple in the UK, both for technical positions and for shop floor retail positions to "learn" retailing. It seems that 35 years of experience in creative NPD and technical management count for nothing even if I set my sights lower. I was also rejected for a poorly paid personnel post in a local supermarket by a personnel manager in the mid-20s. Perhaps there is a fear that older managers will tend to favour older workers which is a possibility since greater reliability and stability can be expected from them. I am afraid that until the top management of the multiples positively instruct their younger managers to change their attitude to ageism, things will not change. The government code of practice is ignored totally, and ageism remains the only legal form of discrimination in the UK. Even those multiples who claim to employ older workers still tend towards tokenism. Unfortunately for the industry, they will soon begin to lose out as the same over 60 group gradually move their purchasing power to "age friendly" outlets. The young managers will not understand why because they cannot understand the needs and values of the group. I challenge all job seekers in a similar position to me to write to IGD, the Food and Drink Federation, to newspapers, MPs, mds of the multiples, or any other organisations they think can help, and express their opposition to the prevalent age prejudice, and demand a reshaping of attitudes. People power worked for the farmers and hauliers. Let's start making grey power work for the majority in the country. T Dickinson By e-mail {{LETTERS }}