Survey on third supermarket
Saturday 20th September 2008, 10:00AM BST.
ISLANDERS are being asked by the States whether or not they want a third supermarket in Jersey.
More than 2,000 households will receive a survey through their door over the next few days asking them if they think a third supermarket operator would benefit the Island.
The States Statistics Unit has been commissioned by the Economic Development department to develop and run the survey to look at what people think is important with regards to food shopping in the Island and what they think of the current food shopping experience.
Last month, property consultants DTZ said that introducing a new supermarket could drive an existing operator out of business and could force the closure of smaller stores. However, their report, commissioned by the Environment Department to help them put together the new Island Plan, did recommend that a discount food store like UK chains Aldo, Lidl or Netto could be established to fill a gap in the food market.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post.
Click here for subscription details.
Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals & Departures
Harbours Arrivals & Departures
Bus Information & Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
First. not all islanders have been asked. why not have a referendum at the same time as the other one. It’s about the public not the Ministers interests.
Second. Who selected the 2,000 houses to send them to? How do we know that that a high percentage has not gone out to the self employed or Business men?
Third. The survey is run by the Chief Ministers Department which has has the name suggests there will be an interest in the results.
The survey should have been independent of the States and covered a lot more people including businesses
Report abuse
Wasting money on canvassing the opinions of a selected audience? Do Ministers not read the protest of islanders? Did business not note the boycott of CI Traders following the demise of independent Safeway?
Hold on to your hats, the demand for a third retailers is about to be kicked into the long grass!
Report abuse
A third supermarket would make no difference to the price of goods in Jersey, it would decimate all the small convenience stores in the Island.
The chances are one of the other big players would be forced to pull out because their market share would fall below a viable level. One only has to look at any town or city in the U.K. to see the effect the large and small versions of companies have had on other small retailers.
Report abuse
unfortunately poor people tend to be less articulate than the rich at getting their point across. the States should be looking after those more in need of help. goods are more expensive in jersey after allowing for transport costs. just allow a third supermarket – make sure all 3 have separate ownership and let battle commence.
it’s not rocket science.
as to those who think jersey doesn’t need one or it’ll spoil the island. well, i bet you won’t find someone who needs to watch the pennies saying that. a case of i’m all right jack, no doubt.
Report abuse
yes a third supermarket is needed to try and bring down prices and have more choice of food
Report abuse
I just arrived in the Uk, back at university. The price gap between Jersey and UK supermarkets has increased dratically, Jersey really needs a firm like Tesco/Asda to drive down prices.
Sandpipers dominance of the market and attempts to penetrate it (Safeway, Iceland, M&S) are admirable but a genuine low cost, good quality supplier is needed!
Report abuse
Won’t happen. waste of paper.
Report abuse
i don’t live on the island but have friends who do and visit now and then and yes i do find food prices to be high compared to mainland uk. unlike english towns that have a large proportion of visiters from the surrounding 20 mile radius to the large stores this is a facter that doesn’t apply to Jersey and i believe the competition will only benefit the local population.
Report abuse
Competition is always a good thing; one supermarket only, and the prices would be higher still.
Report abuse
They said the same about telecoms we got competition and it was good for everyone. Open the market let it find its own level if someone goes out of business someone else stays in business and we end with same. We should not protect badly run supermarkets from competition by well run supermarkets.
Report abuse
G F Jude comments that the small convenience stores would be decimated-well I’m afraid that happened years ago when the majority were bought up by a large chain.How many independently owned corner shops are left now?A third supermarket such as Asda or Tesco would enable people to have a choice-simple as that.From where I live in England we have a choice of Tesco,Waitrose,Sainsbury,Marks and Sparks,Asda,Netto,Iceland,Lidll and Co-Op all within a fifteen minute drive.I also support my local butcher in the next village and buy from numerous farm shops.It is almost thrilling to have this luxury of choice after years of no choice in Jersey.As for the prices……
Report abuse
Whether we have one supermarket chain or twenty, the key factors affecting cost will be the same: cost of carriage to Jersey, lack of transparency of prices compared to UK and local variations of prices. This is often called price fixing, but is really a set of weak excuses made by retailers to justify artificially high prices.
All of these could be very easily addressed by stronger teeth given to a consumer council and the JCRA.
Naming and shaming those that indulge in price fixing would also serve to show the public are not there to be fleeced.
Report abuse
Bring on Asda!! Not only value for money on food but also on clothing – I recently got my mother in the UK to go to Asda to get my kids school uniforms and send them over – saved myself a fair bit seeing as I have twins and need two of everything !! Competition is not only desired it is necessary, Jersey has for too long been at the mercy of the likes of CI Traders type companies who can charge what they like because islanders have no other choice – it is Jersey Telecoms all over again !! Bring on the competition !!
As for the 200 people surveyed, I am betting they have been carefully selected to consist of people against the idea (rich and thoughtless!) How about we get our own survey going to show the Chief Ministers department the real opinion of the island ?? If everyone went around their place of work collecting signatures and then sent it to said department maybe we could get the message across??!
Report abuse
While I agree that a 3rd option supermarket might work. the problem is there is a large moat around the Island. In UK where I live there are 5 large supermarkets within a about a 10 mile radius, and 1 building, not to mention a population larger than the Island’s. This means there has to be competition. Also never get the idea a large business is benevolent.
Report abuse
A third supermarket ? It cannot come too soon.
Report abuse
Excuse me my english but I never lived in Jersey or visit your lovely iland but why only have three supermarchets?
I saw you have 12 perishes don’t you so why not have one supermarchet in each perish then nobody can argue the queue is to long.
Come to France, where we have big ones, or even a floating one, like your HD ferry. Use that in winter if you have no food.
David
Report abuse
Not needed, Jersey is just not big enough for large amounts of competition. You just have to look at the HD ferry fiasco for proof of that. If you want cheap prices moves to the UK! Living in any island in any part of the world is not cheap it is the obvious downside. Small populations and value for money do not go hand-in-hand. Anybody prove me wrong? Please do let me know……
Report abuse
I am very sceptical of this survey.
I recall that our Government paid a six figure sum out of taxpayer’s money to a consultant to find out if we needed a third supermarket – the result was of course – No.
The JEP later brought to our attention that the consultant involved was already employed by one of the two existing supermarket chains.
I agree with “Disappointed in Jersey” that our government is once again just going through the motions with this survey of 2000 probably handpicked homes.
Report abuse
when we had morrissons it did,nt cause any other shops to close this is just an excuse for those with vested interests so they can carry on ripping us off.as for transportation it is the supplier who pay the cost not the retailer they keep using this old chestnut to justify their high costs when morrissons were here their prices were the same as uk (in fact they have one in gibraltar where the prices are same as uk)thats why it was so popular here we were getting value for money unlike the co-op & sandpiper
Report abuse
D. Smedley: An interesting point you make but again you bring the ‘get out’ saying into the debate. While Jersey is an island and yes there are extra costs to living in an island it does not mean you are allowed to over charge. Is it justified that a large retailer in town charges full UK price and then add 5% for shiping, then theres 3% GST. Thats 25.5p per £ more than the UK tax free price. 25%! Its does not take a genius to work out that the retailers have over charged for years. As you used HD i will use JT as an example. JT over the last few years has had to compete with CW and this has brought cheaper phone calls and texts to the public. Anybody prove me wrong? Please do let me know……
Report abuse
Wasting money again on a survey through the door – many of which will end up in the bin and not get responded to.
Try asking people outside the Parish Halls after they collect their paltry welfare cheques and see how many would welcome competition to bring prices down.
Report abuse
I agree with “Fed up local”, ask the people who would be most affected. The likes of those who shop in Marks and Spencer for their weekly shop do not care ! It is those of us who shop in the ‘almost past its use by date’ section that should be asked and that is not ONLY those on welfare. I beleive there are many genuine people on welfare (my sister being one!) but I work full time (always have), as a result I was never allowed in States rental because I apparently earnt too much !!! and have two children and still shop for bargains in order to feed my family – Competition helps those who really need the help. Authorise the 3rd supermarket and gives the people of Jersey a chance to live slightly above the bread line for a change !!!!
Report abuse
Why don’t we just have a little survey here and see how many responses it will get?
Post a “Yes” or “No” if you feel Jersey is in need of a third Supermarket.
Report abuse
I have received one of the surveys – probably because I live in a very nice area of the island and they think that I’m rich – well they are very wrong!! They will not be getting the answer that they want from me !! 3 supermarkets – fantastic idea!!
Report abuse
Good idea Brett
Definitely Yes, come on Jersey (and people who may not be in Jersey but care!) post your vote !!!
Report abuse
PLEASE can we have another supermarket? The few local foodshops still left are having to compete with the conglomerates we already have – the others (like Spar) aren’t local at all.
Supermarket chains must be falling over themselves to get to Jersey looking at the prices they can get away with – but if they only charge 10p less than the existing ones I’ll be there like a shot.
NB how about keeping somewhere like the Dairy site free from posh flats for a supermarket to move onto?? Isn’t that what Economic Development should be doing?
Report abuse
I have said about having another for a long time! A supermarket like Asda or Tescos would be great in the island! This will definately bring competition to the islands shops…lol, well come on then, what is everyone waiting for? It will be good having a decent shop in the island where people can afford to buy items without worrying about how much their evening meal is going to be or being able to afford to buy something different and nice for their children to eat. There was a time that i hadnt been out shopping for a while and to my amazement one evening, i actually went into this store, majority of the special offers had sold out, so i went into the shop the next day, still sold out and also sold out the following day until the special offers had ended. This store never bothered to restock their shelves with the special offers they had advertised, so i missed out on some of the special offers, how many other people have witnessed this?? If we dont get a store before Xmas, my warning to the elderly and to you that have children, get things in early cos you may find them sold out a week or two before Xmas week and also you will find items may have gone up in price! Yes maybe its about time to have a store with reasonable prices and prices to be kept reasonable!
Report abuse
So bring on a price war? Fine except, someone losses out. Not the supermarket but their suppliers. Agriculture in Jersey is in a bad enough state as it is. The big supermarket chains on the Mainland cut supply costs, ie what they pay producers, to the bone, and then say ‘take it or leave it’. As they are the only game in town, what choice?. As an old lady said to me recently’ Orpington High Street, since the supermarkets all you have is cafes and charity shops. Yes there will be jobs brought in the wake, low paid low skilled, and poor conditions. And then say good bye to local shops. Not a scaremonger, just look at the Tesco direct Catalouge, 1000 pages of items, and that’s non food items, from furniture to a Peepa Pig Helicopter (Item number 204-2377) I could almost live my entire life never having to go anywhere but Tesco, open from 8am monday till midnight saturday 10 am till 4pm Sunday , and Bank Holidays. Whoppe, but am I getting a touch paranoid?
Report abuse
I agree bring another supermarket in to the Island, I was back in June to visit family and I could not believe the prices in these shops..I am a Jersey girl but now live in the UK and I am glad I do..I cannot see how anyone survives over in Jersey now with their local weekly shop bill, Jersey is slowly going down the pan I say, and it is very sad to see. So come on all you local Jersey people start fighting for something you really need, before it is too late.
Report abuse
Having 1 place to go for all those items sounds like a good idea to me!!!
Report abuse
There are definitely obvious benefits to letting a large supermarket into your island but there are also major problems and it is not a decision that should be made purely in the belief that the consumer will get cheaper food.
As for Jersey getting ripped off, with GST at 3% I have been able to buy in clothes shops that I wouldn’t be able to afford in the UK. I’m not sure where people are getting the idea that EVERYTHING is more expensive in Jersey because that just isn’t true.
And living on an island does cost more, the islands in Scotland are far more expensive than Jersey and they ARE part of the UK!
Report abuse
Seriously, can we stop it with the ‘if you’re not happy move to the UK’ nonsense! There are areas where you are being ripped off and your States are allowing you to be ripped off and as the electorate you have every right to expect the States to represent you.
If you have been born, raised and paid your taxes here then you should not be expected to leave just because you are unhappy, what should happen is the States should listen to you and act according to the wishes of the electorate (an informed electorate of course)! You guys really need an opposition party because your States are having a laugh!
Report abuse
Don’t think for one moment that having a large conglomerate like Tesco installed here will be good for the Island. These powerful consumer predetors have already caused problems for industry in Jersey. I know growers who have been forced to grow tomatoes under glass in nutrient slurry increasing production costs, who thought they had a contract to sell their soft fruit only to be told ‘sorry we’ve brought from elsewhere’ and they’ve gone under as a result. These companies don’t give a damn about anything other than their profit – they don’t care if you are poor and struggling. Why do they want to come here so desperately precisely because they can see the big fat profits they can make off us. And once in you can be sure they will desimate everyone else, all our local shops – and I mean all will be gone and we will have no choice ever again because they will be no competition ever again. Check out the Walmart movie if you want to see how these organisations rip the guts out of places like Jersey and turn the inhabitants into wage slaves with only one place to work, to shop etc. Also how come everything is so cheap – because they are exploiting other poor people, in other small communities! The problems with high food prices will not be solved by bringing in another supermarket, competition in the market place is not the answer – for the economics of free markets will never apply to a place the size of Jersey. There are many other factors in play that need to be recognised and addressed. We don’t have food security in the Island as it is – and I don’t mean low priced food, I mean food at all. We need to be supporting our local agriculture, buying locally not forcing farmers to sell at bankrupcy prices to the very organisations so many of your think would be good to bring in. A company like Tesco will not provide the Island with food security, nor will they support local agriculture – they will strip us and burn us, then move on. If you think you’ve got it bad now, if you think the monoploies we have at the moment get away with to much then open your doors to a Tescos or Asda and just see how much worse it can get. Go on lets really destroy the Island! If you want to do something about food prices then for goodness sake vote in people who are looking to secure food/fuel etc. for us in the long term.
Report abuse
A third supermarket would be good for the island if they remain independant.
Yes bring in a third, and if the locals cannot be competitive then they don’t deserve to stay in business. It’s a touch life but hey the oldest story of all survival of the fittest!
Report abuse
why are we being denied a choice of shops i get fed up being told to vote with your feet they all sell the same stuff farm shops & spar are a joke. i recently went by boat to weymouth where they have asda tesco morrison iceland waitrose sainbury aldi lidl 1 spar shop open 24 hours which sells many items half the price of shops here with a population of 52000 almost half the amount of jersey and are all doing fine and have been for years.i bought loads of food to bring back so i showed my friends the different brands we are deprived of they could,nt believe it pity we can,t get cheap day trips to weymouth like they give to those in weymouth £26 return against our £112 fare.check out the shops for youselves whenever you go to uk
Report abuse
A third supermarket is going to have its work cut out to keep prices down now that Deputy Alan MacLean is asking the States to increase harbour dues by 2.5%. The States vote in amendments to help people with low incomes cope with GST and then want to charge more to import food – do Deputy MacLean and Senator Ozouf (his boss) think that we are not going to realise that these costs are going to be passed on to us?
Report abuse
Sorry Lizzie but competition WOULD help lower prices. You only need to look at how much mobile prices have dropped since Cable & Woreless and Vodafone have come in. My first priority, like so many others is to feed my family. The greedy local supermarkets must be stopped from charging extortionate prices for every day survival items ! I am Jersey born and would love to see agriculture supported and torism revived but I also need to feed my family. With high import costs due to the harbour dues brought up by Jeremy, maybe a third supermarket would be interested in supporting the local farmer at reasonable prices !
Report abuse