Tesco: 'We're not trying to compete with Bradbeers' (From Daily Echo)

Tesco: 'We're not trying to compete with Bradbeers'

2:00pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

Tesco: 'We're not trying to compete with Bradbeers'

TESCO has hit back at a Romsey retailer’s threat to quit the town if the supermarket giant’s proposed store gets the go-ahead.

Department store, Bradbeers, has said it feared the impact on trade of such a store and would abandon its own multi-million pound expansion plan if the supermarket is approved.

However, Tesco said it was not seeking to compete as a department store and argued its investment would help other town traders.

Managing-director, Greg Davies, has said he would “seriously consider” moving if trade deteriorated enough in a letter of objection to Test Valley Borough Council planners on Tesco’s application for a store on a six-acre site at the Fairground Field site, part of the Broadlands estate.

He has claimed that having the Tesco store could deter other businesses from investing in the town or prevent others from starting business.

Simon Petar, Tesco corporate affairs manager, said their proposal was for a small superstore selling predominantly groceries, not a department store.

He added: “Rather than being challenged by our plans, we fully expect other retailers in Romsey to benefit from our investment.

“We estimate around £50 million is spent each year by local people on food shopping alone in other nearby towns. We want to keep these shoppers in Romsey, spending money not just at our store, but also with other town centre traders.”