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Marylebone businesses fear new Tesco store
Supermarket giant Tesco has been accused of killing local businesses as it plans to open a fourth store in Marylebone.
Independent traders fear a massive drop in trade when a branch of Tesco Express is launched in George Street, adding to the pressure already felt from three existing stores in Baker Street, Marylebone High Street and Melcombe Street.
Guni Patel, manager of Alisha Food and Wine in Dorset Street, close to the site of the planned new store, said: "Tesco is absolutely killing small businesses, and I really think my shop will be affected when the new store opens.
"I'm going to start offering a wine delivery service soon, to try and increase the number of customers at my shop."
Kaleem Satti, who works at AD Food and Wine in Baker Street, added his concerns.
He said: "So far we have not noticed much effect from the three Tesco stores in Marylebone, but we're actually quite worried about when this new one opens as it's closer to our store than the others.
"There will probably be a price war between Tesco and us, so we'll have to start dropping our prices to try and compete with Tesco."
When the George Street branch opens, there will be a total of 21 branches of Tesco in the borough of Westminster alone - as well as plans to open a 22nd in Lupus Street, Pimlico.
Tesco has denied the opening of the new Marylebone store would have a negative impact on local trade.
A spokeswoman said: "More competition and choice can only bring advantages to the area.
"In our experience, Express stores boost local trade and encourage more people to stay and shop in the area and in turn can have a positive effect for other local traders.
"Our Express stores are very much a part of the local community they serve."
The new branch will be at numbers 92 to 98 in George Street.
Westminster Council said neither it, nor local traders, had the power to choose which retailers come into the area.
John Walker, Westminster Council's operational director for development planning, said: "As the site consists of existing retail units Tesco, just like any other retailer, can occupy them without the need for any formal permission.
"Planning permission is not required to amalgamate smaller units into one larger unit.
"In this instance, the only works which required formal applications were the installation of a new shop front, an ATM, air conditioning equipment and signage."
The council's cabinet member for economic development Cllr Brian Connell added: "The loss of small independent shops to dominant supermarkets is an issue right across the country and is a reflection in the dramatic changes in people's shopping habits.
"Marylebone High Street is an example of an area which boasts a distinctive selection of independent retailers alongside major supermarket names to great success.
"But local people hold the real power here, and if they shop locally and support their independent traders then they can make a real difference and help ensure they don't just survive, but also thrive.
"Shopping locally also helps your local community as a thriving high street means we can help avoid areas falling into decline."
* What do you think? Email reporter julieteysenck@trinitysouth.co.uk or submit a comment in the box below.
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As these self-interested traders know, Tesco attracts their customers because it offers a better deal. That's sad for the shop keepers, but it is absurd for anyone else to prefer inferior stores. The era of the small independent grocer is ending. This is not Tesco's fault, it is a result of social and technological change, and is happening all over the world. People should stop blaming Tesco for something that would be happening anyway, and which benefits the public, and move on.
Dear Oliver,
the reason why Tesco offers better deals is because they sell lower quality products, across all categories.
I, for one, shop in the smaller independent stores because only there I can find renowned products and international brands.
Please let's get rid of Tesco (and Asda for that matters) and let us have back products and groceries that are decent.
Tesco can provide the cheapest price because they can drive down the cost they buy at through volume purchasing.
However once they have seen off the majority of Small Businesses which they will! Then your prices will start to rise and rise etc!